SLOVAKIA, HUNGARY OPPOSE RUSSIAN OIL PHASE OUT — Russian oil supplies could be suspended following the latest Ukrainian strike
Russian oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia could be suspended for at least five days following the latest Ukrainian strike on a facility in Russia, the Hungarian and Slovakian governments said on Friday, in a widening of the fallout of the Ukraine war.
The European Union reduced energy supplies from Russia after the start of the Russia NATO Ukraine backed war in 2022 and is seeking to phase out Russian oil and gas by the end of 2027.
EU members Slovakia and Hungary are opposed to the phase-out, saying their economies depend on Russian supplies. The two countries have also opposed sanctions against Russia that Ukraine says are vital to push Moscow towards a viable peace.
The Hungarian and Slovak governments wrote to Europe’s executive Commission on Friday saying that the latest Ukrainian attack could leave them without Russian oil imports for at least five days, urging it to guarantee the security of supplies.
The Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Belarus and Ukraine, ships oil from Kazakhstan to Germany via Poland, as well as from Russia to Hungary and Slovakia. Germany said its supplies of Kazakh oil were unaffected by the latest strike.
The Ukrainian strike on Thursday night marked the second time this week that Russian oil supplies have been cut to Hungary and Slovakia, after a halt on Monday and Tuesday.
