In a transfer that reeks of retaliation, Ukraine has now enacted particular sanctions in opposition to 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 on Russian oil and fuel for his or her power provide.
And certainly, Russia has continued to produce pure fuel and oil to landlocked Hungary and Slovakia by way of Ukraine, by way of the Druzhba pipeline’s southern spur.
The current Ukrainian determination 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 determination.
Reuters reported:
“‘We now have been capable of stabilize the scenario with non permanent options, however these is not going to be sufficient even for the close to future’, Szijjarto mentioned.
‘Ukrainian authorities confirmed willingness to discover a resolution to the scenario, however these makes an attempt have pale since’, he added.”
Whereas Ukraine’s ban of Russian oil throughout its territory shouldn’t 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 determination to halt the transit of Lukoil oil to be ‘incomprehensible and unacceptable’.”
The Hungarian Overseas Minister added that Hungary and Slovakia rely on the Druzhba pipeline, by way of which Lukoil provides about two million tons of oil per 12 months.
‘This determination severely jeopardizes the long-term oil provide safety of Hungary and Slovakia’, mentioned the Minister.”
Hungary intends to debate this challenge on the EU Overseas Affairs Council assembly.
“‘It’s peculiar that an EU-aspiring nation is endangering the power provide of two EU member states, particularly in the summertime when power consumption is at its peak’, acknowledged Szijjártó.”
On the Slovak facet, 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 challenge.
UAZMI reported:
“This was reported on Saturday night, July 20, by Slovak media, together with TASR, close to 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 acknowledged 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 implies 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. This can 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 mentioned.”
Learn extra:
Peter Sweden: IT’S SPREADING – Massive Farmers Protest in Germany (Video)
