'Experts are available immediately': Ukraine to restore Druzhba oil pipeline with EU funding
Photo: Ursula von der Leyen (Getty Images)
Ukraine has accepted the European Union’s proposal for financial and technical support to restore the Druzhba oil pipeline, which was damaged by Russian strikes, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
According to her, European experts are already ready to begin work. Von der Leyen named ensuring energy security for all European citizens as Europe’s priority.
“The EU has offered Ukraine technical support and funding. The Ukrainians have welcomed and accepted this offer. European experts are available immediately,” she said.
The European Commission president noted that after Russian strikes on Druzhba, the European Union began “intense discussions” with European countries and Ukraine on restoring oil flows to Hungary and Slovakia.
Von der Leyen also stressed that the EU will continue working on alternatives to Russian oil for Central and Eastern European countries.
Orbán's ultimatum and the EU’s position
The situation around the Druzhba oil pipeline escalated after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán gave a fuel ultimatum to Ukraine, demanding the immediate restoration of oil transit.
Later, it became known that Budapest had set a deadline, giving Ukraine three days to restore the pipeline’s operation.
In response to the energy crisis in the region, the European Commission expressed readiness to help repair the damaged section of the pipeline.
Experts point to political pressure from Hungary, where the issue of oil supplies is being used as a tool to pressure Ukraine on matters of lending and financial assistance.
A Hungarian delegation led by state secretary of the Ministry of Energy Gábor Czepek arrived in Kyiv for talks on the pipeline.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that the Hungarian representatives do not have official delegation status and arrived in the country as ordinary tourists under the visa-free regime.
