Slovakia’s President Peter Pellegrini has urged Ukraine to end its blockage of Russian oil supplies.
Slovakia has warned that it could take retaliatory measures against Ukraine if Kiev continues to prevent Russian oil from being transported through the Druzhba pipeline.
Last week, Kiev halted the flow of crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline to its energy-dependent neighbors – Hungary and Slovakia – citing sanctions against Russia’s second-largest oil company, Lukoil. This action deprived the two EU member states of oil that meets up to 40% of their needs.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Pellegrini described Kiev’s actions as a “very unpleasant interference in our good relations.”
“I firmly believe that Ukraine will be able to put this in order as soon as possible, because Slovakia, as a sovereign state, will eventually have to take some kind of countermeasures,” he stated, without specifying the nature of a potential response.
However, he added that this “would not benefit either Ukraine or its citizens.”
Pelligrini reminded the public that Slovakia has assisted Ukraine with the reverse flow of gas and has also been supplying electricity to the country. Slovakian Defense Minister Robert Kalinak echoed the president’s criticism and warned that Kiev was “risking a lot” with its “irresponsible” actions.
While the EU banned seaborne oil imports from Russia in December 2022, pipeline deliveries have received exemptions from the embargo to enable land-locked EU countries, including Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, to secure stable oil supplies.
Lukoil provides approximately 50% of the oil transported through the southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline, which is one of the world’s longest pipeline networks. Other suppliers include Russian state-owned Tatneft, Gazprom Neft, the private company Russneft, and several small producers.
On Tuesday, Hungary also vowed to punish Kiev for its blockade of oil deliveries from Russia. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto declared that Budapest would block €6.5 billion ($7 billion) in EU funds allocated to Ukraine until Kiev resumes the transit of oil.
Hungary’s foreign minister mentioned that his country provided 42% of Ukraine’s electricity in June.