Ukraine ready for consultations on Lukoil if EU initiates
Photo: Ukraine is ready for consultations with the EU on the transit of Lukoil oil (Getty Images)
Ukraine is ready to take part in consultations on the situation with the transit of Lukoil oil to Slovakia and Hungary if the European Union decides to do so, according to Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi.
He notes that Ukraine is cooperating with the European Union and other countries to counter Russian aggression, in particular through sanctions.
According to Tykhyi, the provisions of the National Security and Defense Council decision, which, in particular, concerns sanctions against Lukoil, mention the commercial activities of this Russian company in Ukraine.
“And I can only add that we reaffirm our readiness to join consultations under the early warning mechanism by the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement if the European Commission makes such a decision to apply this annex,” the Foreign Ministry spokesperson says.
Background
Earlier, Ukraine stopped transiting Lukoil oil to Hungary and Slovakia because of the sanctions imposed.
Against this background, the two neighboring countries started a scandal. In particular, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó called for consultations in which the European Commission would represent the interests of the two countries.
The Hungarian Foreign Minister also clarified that if no agreement is reached with Ukraine during such consultations, an arbitration court may be launched.
As of today, as stated by the Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Union needs more time to decide on the consultations. In particular, it is collecting evidence and assessing the legal situation.
