Slovakia and Hungary have announced a suspension of diesel fuel exports to Ukraine, citing concerns in the energy sector. Although these measures by the Slovak oil refining company Slovnaft and the Hungarian government have created uncertainty, experts believe that the disruption will not critically impact the Ukrainian fuel market or significantly influence prices at filling stations. The Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that the export halts were initiated as part of a broader emergency response in the energy sector.

The Slovak government has declared a state of emergency regarding energy supplies and has chosen to lend part of its strategic oil reserves to Slovnaft to help mitigate the impact. This contingency measure allows Slovnaft access to up to 250,000 tonnes of crude oil, which is estimated to be sufficient for a month’s operation under current circumstances. The authorities are prepared for the possibility that it may take weeks or even months before exports can resume fully.

While the immediate effects of this suspension are being monitored, reports suggest that the supply route via Hungary and Slovakia might resume operations in the coming weeks, depending on the evolving energy landscape. Ukrainian analysts remain cautiously optimistic, asserting that the domestic fuel market is resilient and capable of adjusting to these temporary export disruptions, thus not posing a critical threat to supply availability in Ukraine.