Fico: Government Ready for Further Reciprocal Measures Against Ukraine

Smolenice, 25 February (TASR) - The Slovak government is prepared to take further reciprocal measures against Ukraine, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) told a briefing following the government's away-from-home session in Smolenice (Trnava region) on Wednesday, adding that the first measure has already been carried out by halting emergency electricity supplies. "We did exactly what we announced and promised. This is the first reciprocal measure that's now in place. The government is ready for further reciprocal measures if we see the Ukrainian president's absolute unwillingness to deliver what we're entitled to and what we've paid for. It goes without saying that this is not Russian oil. This is oil that belongs to the Slovnaft refinery, because Slovnaft purchases this oil at the Belarus-Ukraine border. Ukraine is therefore not transiting Russian oil, as this oil is owned by the Slovnaft company," explained Fico with regard to the situation surrounding the Druzhba oil pipeline in Ukraine which is still out of operation. "We had a fairly serious discussion about this at today's session of the government, and I can see a whole list of further reciprocal measures that are under consideration," warned Fico, adding that it's Ukraine's obligation to transport oil owned by Slovnaft to Slovakia. "Given that all the information we have suggests the pipeline is intact and capable of transporting oil, I consider the Ukrainian President's actions to be hostile towards the Slovak Republic. These actions cause us significant harm in terms of logistics, while also creating major difficulties, especially for Slovnaft in its efforts to secure alternative oil supplies from other parts of the world. Needless to mention, the government had to declare a state of oil emergency and we're already drawing oil from strategic reserves," stressed Fico. "We expect the situation to stabilise once the oil tankers arrive, but I consider it highly unprofessional and hostile for the Ukrainian side to give us different dates every day," Fico said regarding the repeated postponement of the Druzhba pipeline resumption dates. "The latest update is that no oil is to arrive in February, while the earliest possible date is now 3 March. The Ukrainian President presumably believes he can do as he pleases. However, he is very, very wrong," added the prime minister. jrg/mcs