The Russian company Transneft, which specializes in the transport of hydrocarbons, has stopped deliveries to some European countries after a bank transaction was refused.
Deliveries of Russian oil to some European countries via Ukraine have been interrupted after a bank transaction was refused because of sanctions against Moscow, the Russian company responsible for transporting hydrocarbons announced on Tuesday.
In a press release, Transneft explains that its payment for the right of transit through Ukraine for the month of August, made on July 22, was refused on July 28 because of the entry into force of certain sanctions against Moscow. . As a result, the Ukrainian company UkrTransNafta “ceased to provide services for the transportation of oil through the territory of Ukraine from August 4“said Transneft.
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Hungary dependent on Russian oil
These are deliveries via a branch of the Druzhba pipeline passing through Ukraine and serving three European countries without access to the sea, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Deliveries to Poland and Germany, via another branch of Druzhba passing through Belarus, “continue normally“said Transneft. Despite Russia’s military offensive there since the end of February, Russian oil and gas continue to transit via Ukraine to the European Union, several of whose members are heavily dependent on hydrocarbons from Moscow.
The EU adopted in June a gradual embargo on Russian oil, providing in particular for the cessation of crude oil imports by boat within six months. Supply via the Druzhba pipeline, on the other hand, was authorized to continue “temporarily“, without deadline, a concession obtained by the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who cultivates his relations with Vladimir Putin and on which the country depends for 65% of its consumption of this cheap Russian oil.
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European countries have been trying since the conflict in Ukraine to reduce their energy dependence on Russia and accuse Moscow of using its hydrocarbon supplies as a “war weapon“. Russia has thus sharply reduced its gas deliveries to Europe in recent weeks.
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