UKRAINIAN Deputy Foreign Minister Olexandr Mischenko said Ukraine was “not happy” with some countries’ move to import crude oil from Russia amid the oil crisis, but the Philippines managed to explain its situation.
The Philippines has asked the United States for an extension of a sanctions waiver to allow it to buy more Russian oil and petroleum products, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin recently said.
“Of course, we are not happy that some country uses Russian crude oil. We understand specific situation,” Mischenko said in an interview.
“We reiterate that any cooperation with the aggressor, it brings the possibility to prolong the existence of this aggressor, because Russians gain money through this oil only for war; that means that you supply the aggressor,” he added.
Mischenko said Ukraine asked their partners, or the countries that supported Ukraine, “to look for diversity and to escape from dependence on Russia because if you have a deal with the aggressor, you become theoretically part of this situation.”
“But fortunately, the leadership of the Philippines fully understands the situation, and they’re looking for other possibilities,” Mischenko said.
“We understand that it is a small quantity. But nevertheless, as I mentioned, Russia tried to use the conflict in Gulf to [gain funds to use in its] war with Ukraine,” he added.
