Ukraine will not lift sanctions against Russian Lukoil: Ukraine's Prime Minister explains reason
Photo: Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal (Getty Images)
Ukraine has no intentions of lifting sanctions against the Russian company Lukoil. The imposed restrictions do not pose a threat to the energy security of Slovakia or other European countries, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
According to Shmyhal, in recent weeks, he has had several discussions with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, all focusing on energy security.
"Ukraine has insisted and continues to insist on the need to phase out Russian oil as much as possible. Russia and energy security are incompatible. All countries understand this, and most are acting on it. The EU has allowed Slovakia and several other countries to use Russian oil on the condition that they actively develop alternative supply channels. Most are working on this," the Prime Minister said.
He added that Ukraine remains a reliable transit country for all nations that value freedom and the rule of law, and is fully adhering to the EU Association Agreement.
"The sanctions imposed by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine do not pose a threat to the energy security of Slovakia and Europe as a whole, which is why their removal is not up for discussion. We have full understanding from Brussels on this matter," Shmyhal emphasized.
The Prime Minister also noted that Slovakia is a reliable partner of Ukraine, "from which we do not expect blackmail or threats." He added that "threatening Ukraine, which is defending itself from an aggressor, to allow a terrorist state to continue earning its bloody profits is a dubious path."
Shmyhal and Fico have also agreed to hold another intergovernmental meeting in October to continue their "constructive, pragmatic dialogue."
"Thank you to my colleague, Mr. Fico, for the important constructive conversations. I am confident that we will find mutually beneficial solutions for Ukraine, Slovakia, and Europe," the Ukrainian Prime Minister concluded.
What preceded
Recently, it became known that Russian oil from Lukoil stopped arriving in Hungary and Slovakia. The reason was Ukraine's ban on transit through its territory, although Ukrainian sanctions against Lukoil were imposed back in 2018.
Following this, Hungary declared that Ukraine's decision was allegedly unacceptable. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó threatened Ukraine with arbitration if an agreement could not be reached during consultations with the EU. However, consultations did not commence, and the European Commission has yet to make a decision on this matter.
Meanwhile, Slovakia threatened to halt diesel fuel exports to Ukraine if the transit of Russian oil was not restored.
It was recently reported that Ukraine is ready to participate in consultations regarding the situation with the transit of Lukoil oil to Slovakia and Hungary, if the European Union makes a corresponding decision.
