European experts arrive in Ukraine to inspect Druzhba oil pipeline
Photo: Experts will assess the condition of the oil pipeline damaged by Russia (Getty Images)
EU experts arrived in Ukraine on Thursday, March 19, to inspect the Druzhba oil pipeline, which was damaged in a Russian attack, reports Reuters.
The agency reported that European experts arrived in Ukraine today to assess the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline. Its shutdown in January triggered a conflict with Hungary, which is blocking an EU loan to Kyiv.
Background
On Tuesday, March 17, the media reported that on March 18 independent experts from European countries would visit Druzhba and inspect the damaged section of the pipeline.
There will be no representatives from Hungary and Slovakia among them, and logistics will be provided by the EU Delegation to Ukraine. European Commission representatives noted that the experts would visit Druzhba ahead of a meeting of European leaders on March 19 regarding the unblocking of a loan for Ukraine.
Later, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said it had no information about the European Union mission to the Druzhba pipeline.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said that the European Commission had previously approached Ukraine with questions about the approximate timeline for repairing the pipeline damaged during Russian strikes.
EU assistance in restoration
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on March 17 that Ukraine had accepted the European Union’s proposal for financial and technical support to restore Druzhba.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, repair work on the bypass line will be completed soon. He noted that the Brody pumping station will restore technical operability in about a month and a half.
Conflict over Druzhba
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said he would block €90 billion in EU financial assistance to Ukraine until Kyiv restores the transit of Russian oil via Druzhba to Hungarian refineries.
In response, the European Commission said it was ready to help repair the damaged section of the pipeline. Experts view Budapest’s actions as political pressure using energy as leverage.
Later, a Hungarian delegation led by state secretary of the Ministry of Economy Gábor Czepek arrived in Kyiv, but Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry stressed that its representatives did not have official status.
