EU mission to Druzhba pipeline? Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry gives clear response
Photo: Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine has no information about a European Union mission to the Druzhba oil pipeline that media outlets reported yesterday, states Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi during a briefing for journalists.
According to Tykhyi, he does not know where the dates and details of these trips came from.
The spokesperson said that the European Commission had previously approached Ukraine with questions about the approximate timeline for repairing the oil pipeline damaged during Russian strikes. There are currently no exact dates for its restoration, and the sides continue to exchange information on the progress of the work.
He added that the Ukrainian side had provided all the necessary explanations regarding the timeframe and the state of the repairs in a timely manner. Constant contact is being maintained with the European Commission, partners, and EU representatives regarding the technical condition of the facility.
"I can remind you that granting or denying access to Ukraine’s strategic facilities under martial law is a matter for the Security Service of Ukraine," Tykhyi stressed.
What preceded it
Yesterday, media reports claimed that on March 18, independent experts from European countries would visit the Druzhba oil pipeline and inspect the section of the pipeline damaged by Russia.
Hungary and Slovakia will not be represented among them, while logistics is being organized by the EU Delegation to Ukraine.
European Commission representatives said the experts would visit Druzhba ahead of a meeting of European leaders on March 19 regarding the unblocking of a loan for Ukraine.
Situation around Druzhba
The dispute between Ukraine and Hungary escalated after an ultimatum from Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who blocked €90 billion in EU funding while demanding the restoration of Russian oil transit through Druzhba.
In response, the European Commission said it was ready to help repair the damaged section of the pipeline.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a letter to Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa, confirmed that Ukraine had agreed to the EU proposal for financial and technical support for the repairs.
Experts, however, assess Budapest’s actions as political pressure using energy as a lever of influence.
