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Hungary and Slovakia ask EU to mediate with Ukraine over Lukoil

Hungary and Slovakia have asked the European Commission to moderate an assessment procedure with Ukraine, Hungary's foreign minister said on Monday, after Kyiv placed Russian group Lukoil on a sanctions list, stopping its materials to the 2 nations.

Slovakia and Hungary have increased pressure on Kyiv after they stated recently they had actually stopped receiving oil from Lukoil through Ukraine. Hungary receives 2 million metric tons of oil from the Russian group each year, around a third of its overall oil imports, Peter Szijjarto stated.

I spoke with the Ukrainian foreign minister the other day. He stated they permit every oil transfer through, but it's not true, Szijjarto informed press reporters while in Brussels.

The 2 nations have actually started a consultation with the European Commission, he said, adding the Commission had 3 days to react.

If the assessment treatment did not yield outcomes, Hungary and Slovakia would take the concern to an international court of their choosing rather, he said.

A spokesperson for the European Commission said it had got the demand from Hungary and Slovakia and was studying it.

The Ukrainian foreign ministry did not right away respond to a request for remark, though the head of Ukrainian energy firm Naftogaz acknowledged a lack of oil from Lukoil.

The volumes of the transited oil in July are the very same as in the previous periods. There are no Lukoil volumes however volumes are the same, Naftogaz CEO Oleksiy Chernyshov stated.

Lukoil's products by means of the Druzhba pipeline's southern spur represent some 50% of its circulations and MOL's refineries in Slovakia and Hungary totally depend on shipments from Lukoil.

In an attempt to offer oil not sent to Hungary and Slovakia, Lukoil has actually added some 140,000 metric tonnes of petroleum to its original lifting prepare for the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk for July, market sources stated.

OTHER PROVIDERS

The 2nd largest provider through the path is Tatneft , which likewise delivers oil to MOL, while Gazprom Neft , Russneft and some other little independent manufacturers supply the rest.

As an option, Hungary may import oil from Croatia's. Omisalj sea port through the Adria pipeline, while Slovakia is only. able to get oil through Hungary.

Given that April, oil imports through Omisalj were around 500,000. metric lots every month, consisting of the grades Basrah, Azeri BTC. and CPC Blend.

Russia continues to supply gas and oil to landlocked. Hungary and Slovakia via Ukraine regardless of the war in the nation. and EU sanctions on Russian crude.

The countries have exemptions from oil sanctions to give. them more time to shift to alternative sources of supply.

Both Slovakia and Hungary likewise supply energy to Ukraine.

Szijjarto said Hungary provided 42% of Ukrainian electrical power. imports last month.

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico stated over the weekend. that his nation helped to provide diesel to Ukraine, in remarks. in which he criticised the sanctions and stated Slovakia would not. be imprisoned to Ukraine-Russia relations.

On Monday, Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar restated. a few of Fico's remarks, stating that the sanctions had a larger. effect on the Slovakia and the EU than on Russia.

Ukraine's ban does not affect other Russian oil exporters. whose oil was allowed to transit through Ukraine.

(source: Reuters)