Russian oil or electricity: an expert assessed how to resolve the issue with Hungary and Slovakia

Political expert and serviceman Oleksandr Musiienko said what should be done regarding Slovakia and Hungary, which could halt electricity supplies to Ukraine over Russian oil.

He spoke about this on his blog.

As the expert emphasizes, Slovakia and Hungary account for 60% of electricity imports, and in this regard Ukraine is unfortunately dependent on them. The issue, he explains, is that Ukraine urged Slovakia and Hungary to отказаться from Russian oil and purchase American oil via Croatia while they had an exemption. Now, however, they should address their demands to Russia, which struck the Druzhba oil pipeline, causing the supplies to stop.

“I think dialogue still needs to be established. And it seems to me that the time has come to possibly create the institution of a special representative for negotiations between Ukraine and Slovakia and Hungary. As an exception, this is necessary. I still believe that common ground must be found,” Oleksandr Musiienko reflects.

According to the expert, during wartime there is no perfect or super-good choice like in movies or epic books; unfortunately, the choice is only between bad and very bad. And now Ukraine is in a situation, he states, where Slovakia and Hungary could stop electricity supplies amid a deficit caused by Russian strikes.

“A compromise must be found on this issue. There is room for it. It is possible and necessary to work, especially where it is difficult. Whatever the case, they are our neighbors. They are members of the EU and NATO, and the prospects of our cooperation, including with these international organizations, also depend on them,” Oleksandr Musiienko concludes.

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