In a transfer that reeks of retaliation, Ukraine has now enacted particular sanctions towards a Russian firm that solely actually harm the neighboring international locations and even itself.
Many have no idea that a number of European international locations rely upon Russian oil and gasoline for his or her vitality provide.
And certainly, Russia has continued to provide pure gasoline and oil to landlocked Hungary and Slovakia through Ukraine, by way of the Druzhba pipeline’s southern spur.
The current Ukrainian choice to halt the transit of oil from Russia’s Lukoil has led to protests in Budapest and Bratislava, because it threatens the long-term safety of provide of each international locations.
Hungary’s Overseas Minister Peter Szijjarto was very vocal about this choice.
Reuters reported:
“‘We’ve got been capable of stabilize the scenario with short-term options, however these won’t be sufficient even for the close to future’, Szijjarto stated.
‘Ukrainian authorities confirmed willingness to discover a resolution to the scenario, however these makes an attempt have light since’, he added.”
Whereas Ukraine’s ban of Russian oil throughout its territory will not be so unusual, what appears peculiar is that not all Russian oil exporters whose oil was nonetheless allowed by way of Ukraine are affected – simply the one which hurts Hungary and Slovakia essentially the most.
RBC Ukraine reported:
[Hungarian FM] Szijjártó considers Ukraine’s choice to halt the transit of Lukoil oil to be ‘incomprehensible and unacceptable’.”
The Hungarian Overseas Minister added that Hungary and Slovakia rely upon the Druzhba pipeline, by way of which Lukoil provides about two million tons of oil per 12 months.
‘This choice critically jeopardizes the long-term oil provide safety of Hungary and Slovakia’, stated the Minister.”
Hungary intends to debate this situation on the EU Overseas Affairs Council assembly.
“‘It’s peculiar that an EU-aspiring nation is endangering the vitality provide of two EU member states, particularly in the summertime when vitality consumption is at its peak’, said Szijjártó.”
On the Slovak aspect, as you’d count on, Prime Minister Robert Fico is outraged that Ukraine has blocked the provision of Russian oil to Hungary by way of the Druzhba pipeline. He had a phone dialog along with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal on this situation.
UAZMI reported:
“This was reported on Saturday night, July 20, by Slovak media, together with TASR, just about the nation’s authorities. Fico criticized Ukraine’s inclusion of the Russian firm Lukoil within the sanctions checklist, as its oil was additionally utilized by the Slovnaft refinery, which is a part of the Hungarian MOL group.”
Fico said that these sanctions are ‘meaningless’ as a result of they hurt not Russia, however the EU international locations.
“‘Slovakia doesn’t intend to be a hostage to Ukrainian-Russian relations, and the choice of the Ukrainian president signifies that the Slovak oil refinery Slovnaft, which is a part of the Hungarian MOL group, will obtain 40% much less oil than it wants for processing. It will have an effect on not solely the Slovak market, however may additionally result in the cessation of provides to Ukraine of oil produced by Slovnaft, which accounts for nearly a tenth of all Ukrainian consumption’, Fico stated.”
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