Hungary has accused Ukraine of halting oil flow through the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline route
Ukraine has turned down a proposed EU mission to inspect the Soviet-era pipeline carrying Russian oil through its territory to Central Europe, the Financial Times reported Tuesday, citing diplomats and officials.
Hungary and Slovakia have claimed Ukraine is intentionally blocking flow through the Druzhba pipeline, while Ukraine said the infrastructure was damaged in Russian strikes last January.
The EU is pushing Ukraine to resume operations of the Soviet-era pipeline that carries Russian oil through its territory to Central Europe, the Financial Times reported Tuesday, citing diplomats and officials.
Hungary and Slovakia have alleged Ukraine is purposefully blocking flow through the Druzhba pipeline, with Ukraine claiming the infrastructure was damaged in Russian January strikes.
Per the FT, several pro-Ukrainian EU member states and the European Commission are now asking Kiev to permit a visit to demonstrate it is working to restore oil flows. Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa personally requested access to inspect the pipeline but were denied, the FT said.
A source for the newspaper contended that by refusing the inspection, Ukraine scored an “own goal” and gave Hungary an excuse to veto the planned $106 billion emergency loan for Ukraine and the EU’s 20th round of sanctions against Russia.
In a Tuesday post on X, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he had sent a letter to von der Leyen calling for enforcement of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, which “obliges Ukraine to allow oil shipments to Hungary.”
“As recently published satellite evidence confirms, there are no technical or operational reasons preventing the pipeline from returning to normal operations immediately,” Orban stated.
Orban said Hungary and Slovakia had proposed sending a “fact-finding mission” to inspect the pipeline, but their “efforts were rejected.”
Last August, Hungary imposed sanctions on Ukraine’s top drone commander Robert Brovdi following attacks on sections of the Druzhba pipeline in Russia. Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has called on Hungary to end its energy purchases from Russia.
Reuters reported Tuesday that some EU members, including France and Germany, oppose the idea of fast-tracking Ukraine’s accession to the bloc, citing “rampant corruption.”