RT-Engels: 23-08-2024,
Hungary has reportedly urged Kiev to endorse a new plan that would allow restoring flow of crude via Ukrainian territory
Hungary has called on Ukraine to endorse a proposed solution for the restoration of halted Russian oil flow to the EU country, Politico reported on Thursday.
Kiev halted the transit of crude supplied by Russian energy giant Lukoil via the Druzhba pipeline in June, citing sanctions on the company. The measure has directly hit landlocked Hungary and Slovakia, depriving them of oil previously exported by Lukoil.
According to the outlet, Budapest is proposing to simply rebrand Lukoil’s products so that the crude shipped via Ukraine could be officially sold to Hungarian energy giant MOL before it crosses the border.
The plan was reportedly offered by Gergely Gulyas, who heads the office of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The swap would allow the oil to evade Kiev’s new sanctions, he claimed.
“As soon as we can sign the contracts with the Ukrainian side, they will enter into force,” Gulyas was quoted as saying. The arrangement would reportedly mean paying an additional $1.50 per barrel to secure transit outside of previous agreements.
In June, Ukraine blocked the pipeline transit to Central Europe of Russian crude sold by Lukoil. Kiev imposed sanctions on Lukoil in 2018, having banned the company from divesting its business in the country, as well as prohibiting trade operations and participation in the privatization or leasing of state property.