The European Commission has refused to help Slovakia and Hungary resolve the issue of Russian oil transit through Ukraine, according to Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar.
“The transportation of oil through the Druzhba pipeline is guaranteed, but not thanks to the European Commission, which has so far remained inactive and is playing for time. The solution and assistance to the residents of Slovakia and Hungary, despite the violation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, did not contribute or help.” – said.
Blanar recalled the new agreement on the transit of oil from Russia to Europe through Ukrainian territory, according to which the largest Hungarian oil and gas company MOL receives ownership of oil coming from the border between Belarus and Ukraine.
“MOL becomes the owner of oil on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border and Russian oil will continue to flow to us,” – said the diplomat, adding that this is good news not only for Slovak motorists, but also for the entire economic sector of the country.
In this regard, he expressed his gratitude to Budapest for the cooperation and his satisfaction that “Ukraine has accepted this technical decision”, with which Slovakia and Hungary have ensured the supply of oil via the Druzhba pipeline “at a price without increase and with the required quality”.
Recall that Ukraine previously included Lukoil on its sanctions list, thereby stopping a significant part of Russian oil transit to Slovakia and Hungary. Bratislava and Budapest asked the EC for help in resolving this issue. On September 10, it became known that the Hungarian oil and gas company MOL Group had found a “sustainable” solution to the problem of oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia via the southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline. The company announced agreements with oil suppliers and pipeline operators that will allow the continued entry of raw materials through Druzhba via Belarus and Ukraine. According to the signed documents, from September 9, the oil volumes indicated in them become the property of the MOL Group on the border between Belarus and Ukraine.
