EC to Hungary and Slovakia: Give up Russian oil and stop blaming Ukraine

The European Commission has called on Hungary and Slovakia to give up Russian oil instead of blaming Ukraine for the oil blockade, the Financial Times reported, citing a letter from the vice president of European Commission, European Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis, addressed to Budapest and Bratislava.

Earlier, the governments of Hungary and Slovakia asked the European Commission to intervene in their dispute with Ukraine and hold "urgent consultations" after Kiev imposed sanctions on the Russian energy company Lukoil.

With both countries dependent on Russian crude oil passing through Ukraine via the Druzhba pipeline, which is also used by Lukoil, Hungary and Slovakia said the move risks fuel shortages.

But Dombrovskis noted that both countries currently receive enough oil, therefore there is no need for urgent consultations with the European Commission with the participation of Ukraine.

The European Commissioner wrote in his letter that Hungary and Slovakia "must actively diversify away from Russian fossil fuels". He also suggested using alternative oil delivery routes, for example through Croatia.

"The commission's current analysis shows sufficient capacity for Hungary and Slovakia through alternative pipelines such as the Janaf Adriatic pipeline,” the letter said.

According to the vice-president of the European Commission, the Hungarian energy company MOL previously admitted that the company Lukoil, which fell under the Ukrainian sanctions, is not the owner of the oil transiting through Ukraine. Therefore, the Ukrainian sanctions did not affect the supply of oil to Hungary.