The UK has exempted the Druzhba oil pipeline from its new sanctions against Russia, despite targeting the country's oil exports in its latest package against Moscow.
In a recent announcement, the UK government unveiled its largest sanctions package against Russia, coinciding with the anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. This package included nearly 300 new sanctions aimed primarily at crippling Russia's oil exports, a critical source of revenue for President Putin's war efforts. However, amid these sanctions, the UK chose to exempt the Druzhba oil pipeline, which is a significant conduit for Russian crude that passes through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia. This decision has sparked tensions between Ukraine and its European neighbors, highlighting the complex interdependencies around energy supplies in the region.
The Druzhba pipeline, operated by the Russian state-owned company Transneft, is one of the world's largest networks for the transportation of oil. By specifically listing the Druzhba pipeline among
