Slovakia Threatens to Halt Diesel Supplies to Ukraine

On July 29, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced that Slovakia would cease diesel supplies to Ukraine unless Kyiv reinstates oil flows from the Russian company Lukoil through its territory. This statement comes as both Slovakia and Hungary have intensified pressure on Ukraine following its decision to sanction Lukoil, which has halted oil transit to Slovak and Hungarian refineries. Fico emphasized that if the transit of Russian crude is not restored soon, Slovnaft, the Slovak refiner, would stop diesel deliveries to Ukraine. Fico noted that Slovak diesel supplies account for approximately 10% of Ukraine's consumption. He revealed that he proposed a technical solution to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to restore the halted oil flows, although he did not disclose specific details. He mentioned that the solution would require collaboration among multiple countries and expressed optimism that relevant trading firms are already considering how to implement this solution swiftly. This ongoing dispute highlights the continued reliance of some EU countries on Russian energy, even after the bloc's decision to halt oil imports from Moscow following the invasion of Ukraine over two years ago. Notably, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic have received exemptions from the ban on Russian pipeline oil imports, allowing them additional time to seek alternative energy sources. The situation underscores the complexities of energy dependencies within the EU and the geopolitical ramifications of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.