The European Commission has rejected a request from Hungary and Slovakia to urge Ukraine to lift the ban on the transit of Russian oil from Lukoil.
The Financial Times writes about this, citing its own sources, Hromadske reports.
Hungary and Slovakia have asked the European Commission to start consultations on a trade agreement with Ukraine. However, EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told the FT that Brussels “will need more time to gather evidence and assess the legal situation”.
On July 24, a meeting of EU trade representatives was held. At the meeting, 11 countries spoke in support of his position, and none of the parties sided with Budapest and Bratislava, three unnamed European diplomats told the publication. One of them noted that the trade agreement with Ukraine contains a security clause that could allow for the interruption of transit supplies.
Slovakian President Peter Pellegrini also reacted to Ukraine’s decision and warned that Slovakia could take “indefinite measures in response” to Ukraine’s ban on oil transportation by the Russian company Lukoil.
Hungary also voiced similar threats. Budapest has threatened to block the payment of 6.5 billion euros from the European Peace Fund to Ukraine if Kyiv does not agree to lift the transit ban.
