EU may fund Druzhba pipeline repairs to unlock loan for Ukraine - Bloomberg
EU may pay for Druzhba pipeline repairs to unlock loan for Ukraine (photo: Getty Images)
The European Union is considering providing Ukraine with financial assistance to repair the Druzhba oil pipeline, as Hungary and Slovakia block a loan for Kyiv and impose sanctions against Russia until oil supplies resume, Bloomberg reports.
According to sources of publication, the European Commission may provide support through the budget assistance it provides to Ukraine. The EU is also ready to provide expertise, these people said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
As is known, Russia attacked the facility in January, which caused a fire in a storage tank that was extinguished for 10 days, and damaged equipment, power cables, transformers, and the leak detection system.
Hungary and Slovakia accused Ukraine of withholding supplies while questioning the scale of damage. Neither country acknowledged the Russian attack.
According to Bloomberg sources, since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, the Druzhba facility has been hit almost two dozen times.
Repair work was often carried out during Russian attacks, putting workers' lives at risk, and Moscow will likely attack the pipeline again after it is repaired, these people added.
Blocking of aid by Hungary angered the EU and several capitals, which accused Budapest of breaking a promise made in December to allow a loan for Ukraine.
Hungary also refused to consider alternatives to Russian energy supplies, such as deliveries via Croatia, arguing that oil from Moscow is cheaper. EU ambassadors discussed the issue at a meeting on Wednesday.
According to sources, the executive arm of the European Union is negotiating with Kyiv the possibility of sending a fact-finding mission to verify damage to the Druzhba pipeline.
Russian strike on Druzhba
At the end of January, Russians struck the Druzhba oil pipeline. As a result of the attack, the transit of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia stopped.
Instead of criticizing Moscow for the strike on Druzhba, Budapest and Bratislava accused Ukraine of not restoring pipeline operation for political reasons.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that during repair work, another Russian strike on repair crews could occur. Therefore cost of repair may prove too high.
At the same time European Union is pressing Ukraine to gain access to a section of the Druzhba pipeline damaged by a Russian strike.
In addition, the Slovak state company SEPS said it intends to terminate the contract with Ukrainian Ukrenergo for emergency electricity supply. A corresponding decision has already been made by the Slovak government due to Kyiv's unwillingness to restore oil transit through Druzhba.
