EU rejects talks with Ukraine

BRUSSELS — The European Commission has decided against initiating formal discussions with Ukraine following complaints from Hungary and Slovakia regarding a partial ban on Russian oil exports. This decision comes after Ukraine imposed sanctions in June that blocked the transit of crude oil from Lukoil, Russia's largest private oil firm, to Central Europe, raising concerns about potential supply shortages in both countries. In a letter sent last month, Hungary and Slovakia urged the EU to engage in emergency consultations with Ukraine, citing violations of a 2014 trade agreement. However, the Commission dismissed this request, with spokesperson Balazs Ujvari stating that the sanctions do not currently pose an immediate risk to the security of supply for either country. The Commission is still in the process of verifying the situation and has requested additional information from the two nations. EU trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis, after a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, confirmed that oil exports to Hungary and Slovakia remain unaffected as long as Lukoil does not own the oil in question. This clarification aims to alleviate concerns stemming from the sanctions imposed by Ukraine. The backdrop to this situation is the EU's broader strategy following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which included an embargo on Russian oil imports while allowing certain pipeline supplies to Hungary and Slovakia to facilitate their transition to alternative energy sources.