Blanar: Slovakia to Support 20th EU Package If Russian Oil Flows through Druzhba

Luxembourg, 21 April (TASR) - Slovakia is ready to support the EU's 20th package of sanctions against Russia if Russian oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline are restored, Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) stated on Tuesday following a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. "I can say that we're ready to support also the 20th sanctions package against Russia, because, by our assessment, this will not affect Slovakia's economy. However, we will only do so once Russian oil arrives in Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline. For now, I can say that we haven't received such information so far, and I have told my colleagues and the entire Foreign Affairs Council that this is a political decision which is based on the political decision of [Ukrainian] President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy not to let oil flow to Slovakia and Hungary," stated Blanar. Earlier on Tuesday, Zelenskyy announced on X that repairs to the damaged section of the Druzhba pipeline have been completed and that its operation can be restored. However, Blanar stated after the meeting that it remains unclear when oil will start flowing via the pipeline. At the meeting, ministers of EU member states also discussed EU's 90-billion loan to Ukraine. "On behalf of Slovakia, I can clearly state that the Slovak Republic is not taking part in the loan to be provided to Ukraine, along with two other countries, the Czech Republic and Hungary," said Blanar. "By agreeing to this loan at the European Council summit in December and by not participating in it, this issue is settled for us, and it's up to others to deal with it. The Slovak Republic was never in a position where it would block this loan. However, when it comes to resuming oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline, that's indeed a very important issue for us," he added. In February, EU member states failed to adopt the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, while EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas suggested that the agreement was blocked by Slovakia and Hungary. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto had previously announced that Hungary would block the 20th sanctions package until Ukraine restores oil supplies through Druzhba. jrg