EU proposes new route for transfer of Russian oil to Hungary, Slovakia

The EU is proposing an alternative route for the transfer of oil to Hungary and Slovakia that bypasses Ukraine following an emergency meeting over a dispute between the trio. 

Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, a spokesperson for the European Commission, which summoned an extraordinary session of its Oil Coordination Group, has relayed that the new road could run through Croatia, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media. 

According to her, Budapest and Bratislava have already received a proposal from the EU’s expert coordination group outlining a new method for importing crude oil. 

Under the plan, fuel would be delivered by sea and then transported via the Adriatic Pipeline, whose capacity is sufficient to meet the needs of both countries.

However, Itkonen added that Croatia is considering the possibility of accepting shipments of Russian oil despite sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United States.

On February 25, Hungary and Slovakia halted diesel supplies to Ukraine after a Russian attack on the Druzhba oil pipeline in Ukrainian territory disturbed operations. Budapest and Bratislava, who both rely heavily on Russian crude oil transported through the pipeline, have accused Kyiv of deliberately delaying repairs for political reasons.

By Nazrin Sadigova