Ukraine guarantees oil transit for Slovakia

Ukraine has assured uninterrupted oil transit for companies not under sanctions and is prepared to address transit issues with Slovakia following the European Union (EU) Association Agreement, Deputy Energy Minister Roman Andarak stated on Tuesday.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico had threatened to halt diesel supplies to Ukraine unless Kyiv reinstates oil flows from Russia’s Lukoil, which Ukraine sanctioned in late June. The sanctions barred Lukoil from operating in Ukraine and halted its oil shipments to Slovak and Hungarian refineries.

Andarak emphasised that Ukraine is ready to resolve any issues once Slovakia activates the appropriate EU mechanisms, which Slovakia has yet to do. He reiterated that Ukraine continues to be a reliable partner for the EU in oil transit, with deliveries from other Russian suppliers unaffected.

The combined diesel supply from Slovakia and Hungary accounts for approximately 10 per cent of Ukraine’s needs, which analysts believe can be replaced by other sources.

Attribution: Reuters