Hungary and Slovakia appealed to the European Commission to urge official Kyiv to lift sanctions on the Russian oil company Lukoil, since Ukraine stopped the transit of petroleum products from Russia via the Druzhba pipeline to EU countries.
The Financial Times writes about this.
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It is known that Hungary and Slovakia received exceptions from the pan-European ban on the import of Russian oil after Russia's attack on Ukraine. But Kyiv's recent decision to stop the transit of Lukoil products through the pipeline could lead to a reduction in supplies.
Hungary and Slovakia therefore appealed to the European Commission with a request to begin consultations within the framework of a trade agreement with Ukraine.
But Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU trade commissioner, told the Financial Times that Brussels will need more time to collect evidence and assess the situation legally.
At yesterday's meeting of EU trade representatives, 11 countries supported Valdis Dombrovskis's opinion, and no country sided with Budapest and Bratislava, three diplomats told the FT.
The trade agreement with Ukraine includes a security clause that could allow supplies to be cut off.
Russian oil for Slovakia and Hungary
Russian oil makes up 35-40% of the feedstock at the only oil refinery in Slovakia. Products made from this oil are exported to Ukraine itself and many countries in Central Europe. Slovak President Peter Pellegrini said that he would be forced to react if Ukraine did not change its position regarding Lukoil. He also added that Slovakia is helping Ukraine with gas reserves and electricity supplies.
Lukoil oil passing through Ukraine accounts for about 25-30% of Hungary's oil imports.
