The countries have been unable to find a compromise on LUKOIL oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia via Ukraine for about two months. Ukrainian sanctions included blocking assets, limiting trade operations and “partial or complete cessation of resource transit”. Ukraine’s decision to expand sanctions on LUKOIL supplies was actively criticized by the authorities of Hungary and Slovakia, who said that it threatened the energy supplies of both countries. “Please, let someone explain to me what is good about sanctions against LUKOIL, which will harm Slovakia, Hungary and Ukraine the most, but will practically not affect LUKOIL, because it will place this oil on other markets,” said Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico. The Kremlin called Kyiv’s decision to reduce transit via Druzhba “political”. Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov ruled out “the possibility of contact” with the Ukrainian side. “The situation is quite critical for our recipients, but it does not depend on us in any way,” he noted.