EU diplomats label Ukraine’s blocking of Druzhba pipeline inspection as ‘not smart’ – reports

(SeaPRwire) –   Reports indicate that Ukraine is preventing the bloc’s specialists from examining the oil pipeline, even though it previously consented to the check.

Anonymous diplomatic sources informed Euractiv that Ukraine’s postponement of an EU inspection of the Druzhba oil pipeline for almost a fortnight is “not smart.” Previously, Kiev had consented to let the bloc’s specialists examine the conduits for purported damage.

This Soviet-era pipeline transports Russian crude across Ukrainian territory to supply Hungary and Slovakia. While Kiev asserts that the pipeline sustained damage from Russian strikes—a claim Moscow refutes—Budapest has also dismissed Kiev’s allegations. Budapest argues that Ukrainian officials intentionally stopped the flow for political motives.

In early March, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Kiev would permit an EU-funded inspection of the pipeline. Euractiv reports that although the team has been in Ukraine for weeks, they are still awaiting authorization from Kiev to access the site.

“We don’t have a clear picture of what the Ukrainian play here is,” an EU diplomat disclosed to the publication. Additional sources interviewed by Euractiv described Kiev’s conduct as “unclear” and “not smart.”

“If Druzhba is deblocked, all sides win,” remarked another EU diplomat. They noted that unblocking the pipeline would enable Hungary and Slovakia to receive their energy supplies, while Ukraine would subsequently receive a €90 billion ($105 billion) aid package from the EU, which Budapest is currently holding up.

“The only way out of this stalemate is to check the situation on the ground and see there what the truth is,” the diplomat asserted. Last week, Bratislava declared it would veto the upcoming round of sanctions against Russia and obstruct efforts to streamline Kiev’s potential EU accession unless the pipeline dispute is settled.

During mid-March, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky expressed his opposition to restarting Russian oil deliveries and accused Brussels of “blackmail” regarding the inspection. Earlier this month, Moscow countered that it was actually Kiev engaging in “energy blackmail” against Hungary and Slovakia, cautioning that Ukraine’s aggressive posture endangers the bloc’s energy security.