Bratislava conditioned backing for the EU’s 20th sanctions package on the confirmed resumption of Russian oil flows via the Druzhba pipeline. The foreign minister said no restart has been reported yet, making Slovakia’s vote contingent on actual deliveries rather than political assurances.
Slovakia announced its readiness to support the 20th EU sanctions package against Russia, but only if the Druzhba pipeline resumes operation.
According to Slovakia’s Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár, the country’s position is to support the package only if the Druzhba resumes supplies of Russian oil.
Context of the Situation
“We are ready to support the 20th sanctions package against Russia, as it will not affect Slovakia’s economy. However, we will do this only after Russian oil arrives in Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline,”
– Juraj Blanár
So far, Blanár noted that no information about the resumption of the pipeline’s operation had been received. This is a political decision based on the position of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding the denial of oil to Slovakia and Hungary, the diplomat noted.
“This is a political decision based on the position of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding the denial of oil to Slovakia and Hungary”
– the diplomat
According to TASR, the transportation of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline through Ukraine to Slovakia and Hungary was halted in January after damage sustained during a Russian attack. The Slovak government declared a state of emergency in the oil sector.
Bratislava and Budapest have repeatedly accused Kyiv of delaying the restoration of crude oil transportation for political reasons.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, during a recent visit to Berlin, stated that the Druzhba pipeline would be up and running again by the end of April.
The situation around oil transit via the Druzhba remains dynamic, and future steps depend on clarifying the positions of the parties and the actual resumption of deliveries.