Kiev continues to supply Russian gas and oil to European countries despite attacking Moscow's energy facilities and calling on its allies to stop financing Russia's invasion by buying its energy supplies.
Zelensky's aide, Mikhail Podolyak, told Ukrainian media that the country would suspend transit of Russian oil from January 1, 2025 - in line with Kiev's commitment to stop Russian gas supplies at the same time.
Later in the day, however, he told AFP that this was not the plan and that Kiev would continue to fulfil oil transit contracts signed with European countries after that date.
"We have fulfilled and will continue to fulfil in full all our contractual obligations to our European partners," he said.
Earlier this week, Zelensky indicated that Kiev would not extend the Russian gas transit contract when it expires at the end of 2024.
But Ukraine's commitments to transport Russian oil are governed by different contracts and terms.
Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic have signed contracts to receive Russian crude through the Druzhba pipeline, which runs from central Russia through Ukraine and reaches Europe.
The EU imposed sweeping restrictions on Russian oil imports after Moscow invaded Ukraine, effectively banning 90% of Russia's pre-war sales to Europe.
About half of Russia's oil exports went to the EU - worth almost $80 billion in 2021, according to the bloc. | BGNES
