"The bloc was already struggling to agree on a maritime ban on Russian oil, but now Hungary and Slovakia are leveraging their vetoes on the EU's 20th sanctions package in order to ensure that Russian oil still flows to them either via the damaged Druzhba pipeline or through Croatia. Several European diplomats that RFE/RL has been in touch with under condition of anonymity confirmed that Hungary and Slovakia have signaled that they have put in a so-called "general reserve" on the sanctions package."
"While the European Union has imposed an import ban on Russian oil via pipelines due to the the Kremlin's war in Ukraine, Hungary and Slovakia secured exemptions to those sanctions using the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian oil to Central Europe via Ukraine. The deliveries from this pipeline, however, have been halted since January 27 with Kyiv stating that a Russian drone was responsible for damaging the energy infrastructure."
Hungary and Slovakia are leveraging vetoes on the EU's 20th sanctions package to protect continued Russian oil deliveries via the damaged Druzhba pipeline or through Croatia. Both countries placed a "general reserve" on the package, seeking extra information or reassurances that their oil-flow demands will be respected before approval. Deliveries via Druzhba have been halted since January 27 after Kyiv said a Russian drone damaged infrastructure. Budapest and Bratislava accuse Kyiv of delaying restart and halted diesel exports to Ukraine until flows resume. Croatia has offered conditional assistance if compatible with EU and US sanctions law.
Read at RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
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