Ukraine Blocks Delivery of Russian Company’s Oil To Neighboring Hungary and Slovakia, Threatening Their Energy Security

RETALIATION? Ukraine Blocks Delivery of Russian Company’s Oil To Neighboring Hungary and Slovakia, Threatening Their Energy Security

Paul Serran

In a move that reeks of retaliation, Ukraine has now enacted specific sanctions against a Russian company that only really hurt the neighboring countries and even itself.

Many do not know that multiple European countries depend on Russian oil and gas for their energy supply.

And indeed, Russia has continued to supply natural gas and oil to landlocked Hungary and Slovakia via Ukraine, through the Druzhba pipeline’s southern spur.

The recent Ukrainian decision to halt the transit of oil from Russia’s Lukoil has led to protests in Budapest and Bratislava, as it threatens the long-term security of supply of both countries.

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto was very vocal about this decision.

Reuters reported:

“‘We have been able to stabilize the situation with temporary solutions, but these will not be enough even for the near future’, Szijjarto said.

‘Ukrainian authorities showed willingness to find a solution to the situation, but these attempts have faded since’, he added.”

While Ukraine’s ban of Russian oil across its territory is not so strange, what seems peculiar is that not all Russian oil exporters whose oil was still allowed through Ukraine are affected – just the one that hurts Hungary and Slovakia the most.

Szijjártó considers Ukraine’s decision to halt the transit of Lukoil oil to be ‘incomprehensible and unacceptable’.”

The Hungarian Foreign Minister added that Hungary and Slovakia depend on the Druzhba pipeline, through which Lukoil supplies about two million tons of oil per year.

‘This decision seriously jeopardizes the long-term oil supply security of Hungary and Slovakia’, said the Minister.”

Hungary intends to discuss this issue at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting.

“‘It’s peculiar that an EU-aspiring country is endangering the energy supply of two EU member states, especially in the summer when energy consumption is at its peak’, stated Szijjártó.”

On the Slovak side, as you would expect, Prime Minister Robert Fico is outraged that Ukraine has blocked the supply of Russian oil to Hungary through the Druzhba pipeline. He had a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal on this issue.