Ukraine’s sanctions on Russian oil transit do not threaten Slovakia’s energy security: Premier

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Wednesday that his country’s sanctions on Russian oil transit do not threaten Slovakia’s energy security.

“The sanctions imposed by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine do not pose a threat to the energy security of Slovakia and Europe in general, so there is no question of lifting them,” Shmyhal said in a statement on X.

On Monday, Hungary and Slovakia jointly initiated a European Union consultation procedure against Ukraine in response to Kyiv's decision to halt Russian oil company Lukoil’s crude oil transits last month.

Despite EU sanctions against Russia, landlocked Hungary and Slovakia continue to receive natural gas and oil through Ukraine.

Shmyhal said that Kyiv has and continues to insist on the need to refrain from using Russian oil “as much as possible.”

“The EU allowed Slovakia and a number of other countries” to use Russian oil on the condition that they actively develop alternative supplies, Shmyhal further said, indicating that the majority are building up such alternatives.

He called Slovakia a “reliable partner” of Ukraine, saying Kyiv “does not expect any blackmail or threats” from Bratislava.

In response to Kyiv's steps, Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico previously said his country would not be a "hostage" in Ukraine-Russia relations.