Slovakia calls on EU to step in over disrupted oil flows through Ukraine - Reuters

YEREVAN, JULY 26, ARMENPRESS. Slovakia called on the European Commission on Thursday not to delay a decision in a request by it and Hungary for mediating a consultation procedure with Ukraine over disrupted oil flows from Russia, Reuters reports.

Slovakia and Hungary have increased pressure after they said last week they had stopped receiving oil from Russian group Lukoil via Ukraine due to Kyiv placing the company on a sanctions list.

The Commission was seeking more information in the dispute, a spokesperson told Reuters on Wednesday.

"I call on the European Commission not to drag out time and to take the side of its member states and especially its citizens as soon as possible," Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar said in the emailed reply to Reuters questions.

"We don't have time, because ill-considered sanctions and irresponsible actions of our neighbouring state can very quickly bring negative consequences to Slovakia," he added.

According to Reuters, Blanar reiterated Slovakia had become a "hostage" at the hands of Ukraine and the European Commission in the dispute.

The country has criticized sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and say they hurt European Union states more than Russia, the report adds.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on July 22 the Commission had three days to respond to the countries' request for a consultation procedure, after which the countries would take the issue to court.

The EU imposed sanctions on Russian oil in 2022 although Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic gained exemptions due their reliance, the report adds.

Those countries receive oil from Russia via the Druzhba pipeline that runs through Ukraine.