The Slovak government announced on Wednesday that it will restrict diesel sales for 30 days due to a shortage caused by the suspension of oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline.
Ukraine stated that, following the attacks, the pipeline carrying Russian oil to Europe was damaged at the end of January.
Landlocked neighbors Slovakia and Hungary, whose leaders have close ties to the Kremlin, have accused Kiev of deliberately delaying the reopening of the pipeline, as reported by Digital Journal.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated on Wednesday that its main refinery, Slovnaft, is currently partially relying on state reserves of oil.
Therefore, for 30 days, starting from Thursday, Slovakia will restrict diesel sales at gas stations, allowing customers to refuel only one car tank and a container of up to 10 liters.
A driver can purchase diesel worth up to 400 euros for a single car.
Furthermore, foreign drivers, who are currently benefiting from lower prices in Slovakia, will pay more.
"The government has set a special price for foreign cars, calculated as the average diesel price in Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic," said Fico.
Slovakia has also restricted diesel exports to other countries.
"The measures are extreme, but there is no other way in the situation where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is helping us in this way," Fico said ironically.
Last week, the EU proposed an inspection of the pipeline.
But Fico said that if the mission does not include Slovak and Hungarian experts, it will be nothing but "a bad joke."