EU finds alternative to Druzhba: How Croatia could help overcome Orban’s veto
Illustrative photo: EU urges Ukraine to urgently repair the Druzhba pipeline (Getty Images)
The European Commission has urged Ukraine to speed up repairs on the Druzhba oil pipeline. Currently, the most viable alternative for supplying oil to Hungary and Slovakia is considered to be the Croatian Adria pipeline, according to Euronews.
Read also: Druzhba pipeline to resume tomorrow? Investigating claims
Searching for alternative routes
According to EU experts, the capacity of the Croatian operator JANAF is sufficient to meet the needs of Hungary and Slovakia.
Croatia has confirmed that it is ready to ensure the stable transit of non-Russian oil.
The network operator stated that, as a strategic energy hub of the European Union and the only secure route for supplying crude oil to Central Europe, JANAF was ready to fully meet the annual needs of refineries in Slovakia and Hungary.
EU Commission representatives emphasized that there is currently no critical threat to energy security, as the countries have sufficient reserves.
Risks of repairs under fire
The Druzhba pipeline was damaged at the end of January as a result of a Russian attack.
Ukraine has already begun restoration work, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the danger to workers’ lives due to the risk of repeated strikes.
Zelenskyy said during a meeting with EU leaders that when repairs are carried out, Russia attacks again, questioning why the repairs should be done and whether it was worth losing more people, adding that he considered it a very high price.
Kyiv also stressed that political pressure from Budapest and Bratislava is unacceptable, as both countries, amid the energy dispute, have suspended diesel and electricity exports to Ukraine.
Political deadlock
Euronews emphasized that, due to the halt in transit, Hungary used its veto power to block both a loan to Ukraine and the 20th package of sanctions.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reportedly called the situation "blackmail" and ordered the army to be deployed to protect oil infrastructure near the Ukrainian border.
The situation remains tense ahead of elections in Hungary, where criticism of Brussels and Kyiv has become part of the ruling party’s campaign rhetoric.
Tensions between Kyiv and Budapest
Earlier, Slovakia and Hungary had already complained to the European Commission about Ukraine’s suspension of Russian oil transit.
The conflict escalated after the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to ultimatums from Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico, stressing that political pressure was unacceptable.
Despite the disputes, the Ukrainian side reportedly offered Hungary a compromise to resolve the situation with the Druzhba pipeline.
At the same time, the EU has repeatedly noted that Hungary could, if needed, forgo Russian oil in favor of alternative routes through Croatia.
