Fico Has Phone Call with Ukrainian Premier over Oil Supplies Situation

Bratislava, July 20 (TASR) - Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) spoke on the phone with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal on Saturday, criticising the inclusion of the Russian company Lukoil, whose oil was also used by the Slovnaft refinery, on the sanction list, TASR has learnt from the Government Office's press department. Fico views it a meaningless sanction, as it doesn't harm the Russian Federation, but mainly some EU member countries. "Slovakia doesn't intend to be a hostage to Ukrainian-Russian relations, and the decision of the Ukrainian president means that the Slovak refinery Slovnaft, a member of the Hungarian MOL group, will receive 40 percent less oil than it needs for processing. It will have an impact not only on the Slovak market, but it may also lead to the halt of deliveries of Slovnaft-produced oil to Ukraine, while these make up almost one tenth of the entire Ukrainian consumption," stated the Slovak premier. According to the Government Office, Fico has been communicating the issue with the relevant cabinet members, as well as MOL officials for several days. Ukraine has stopped transporting oil from Russian company Lukoil, with the Economy Ministry confirming the halt for TASR earlier this week. This move also affected Bratislava-based refiner Slovnaft. The ministry said that although Lukoil provided part of Slovnaft's supplies, the refiner has secured supplies of Russian oil from another supplier and has also ordered oil from alternative sources. ko