No mercy from Ukraine: They insist on restricting Russian oil transport to Hungary, Slovakia – UPDATED
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News broke in mid-July about an end-June Ukrainian decree banning Russian Lukoil from transporting crude oil using Ukrainian pipelines. Some experts said the step endangers supply in Hungary and Slovakia considerably. Ukraine says the opposite, and they cleared that in a harsh message to PM Robert Fico, claiming that the European Commission is on their side. Here’s the next episode of the Russian oil conflict.
No ‘mercy’ from Ukraine in Russian oil conflict
Ukraine’s prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, shared the harsh reaction of the Ukrainian government on an alleged Slovakian ‘threat’ on Telegram. He suggested that those countries that would like to keep up Russian transport to Europe would support the aggressor, and that is unacceptable. Before, Bratislava said they would halt diesel export to Ukraine provided Kyiv does not abolish their Lukoil sanction.
Ukraine announced the ban on Lukoil in mid-July and added they would not like to support the Russian machine by letting through crude for a company that is one of the biggest supporters of Putin’s invasion.
The Hungarian and Slovakian governments were outraged, saying that the unilateral Ukrainian decision endangers both countries’ oil and energy supply. Some experts like Ilona Gizińska, a senior analyst of the Centre for Eastern Studies, told Politico that Hungarians should calculate with skyrocketing fuel and energy prices, but experts say she was not right.
The European Commission supports Ukraine
G7.hu wrote that the ban on Lukoil’s transport does not mean there would be fewer molecules in the Ukrainian pipeline, coming to Hungary and Slovakia. It only means that Lukoil is unable to label its crude as Lukoil. However, another company can substitute it in Ukraine, as it probably already happened, and business may continue as usual. For example, Hungarian gas and oil giant MOL having refineries in Bratislava and Százhalombatta and processing Russian oil, has not even said a word concerning the issue.
Meanwhile, concerning the government’s excess profit taxes, MOL CEO Zsolt Hernádi slammed the Orbán cabinet in an opinion article. “We pay more for nothing. Isn’t that familiar somehow? Just like in the Communism. Back to the future, gentlemen”, he concluded his article published in the government-close Mandiner.
That is why Ukraine says their step does not endanger Slovakia and Hungary. And that is why they replied so harshly and added that the European Commission supported them. Hungary and Slovakia have jointly initiated a consultation procedure with the European Union against Ukraine, but the European Commission did not back the plea.
Buntetés! It’s time for Hungary to start playing for the home team instead of for the enemy. This should have happened a long time ago. Oh the outrage by Fidesz politicians! They are dragging Hungary further down every day they run the government. As the Polish foreign ministry said “Why don’t you leave (the EU) and form a union with Putin?”
Marha
Sanyi
Pressurization mounts on the Orban – Fidesz Government.
Orban, it’s rightly building directed at coming at HIM from all DIRECTIONS.
Orban, you hand it out, you play games, you fabricate, you “jump ship” – you DESERVE what mounts against YOU.
Hungarians GROW and grow in numbers and power, that will be a MAJOR “player” in bringing you, your Fidesz Government – DOWN.
Hungary – we have been FAILED.