Following the Russian missile attacks at the end of January, which damaged the Druzhba pipeline and led to the suspension of oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia, the European Union initiated consultations with Ukraine and member states regarding the restoration of energy resource transit.
This is reported by Finway
Technical and Financial Support from the EU
In a joint statement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel emphasized that the EU has offered Ukraine technical assistance and funding for restoration works. The Ukrainian side accepted this proposal, and European experts are already ready to engage in the process.
“The EU has offered Ukraine technical support and funding. The Ukrainian side welcomed and accepted this proposal. European experts are ready to start work immediately,” the joint statement reads.
Ukraine’s Position and Discrepancies Regarding the State of the Pipeline
President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his letter to European partners, stressed that Ukraine remains a reliable energy partner for the European Union. He categorically rejected accusations of deliberately obstructing the transportation of oil through Druzhba.
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale aggression, the EU has imposed a ban on the purchase of Russian oil; however, exceptions were made for Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria due to their dependence on the Druzhba pipeline. Subsequently, Austria was able to diversify its supplies. The Druzhba pipeline remains a key route for oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia via transit through Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials state that the damage to the pipeline resulted from Russian shelling. However, Hungarian and Slovak officials deny this information, with Budapest citing satellite data that allegedly does not confirm the existence of technical or operational issues that could hinder the immediate restoration of Druzhba’s operations.
On March 11, Hungary’s Deputy Minister of Energy Gábor Čepel announced that a delegation from his country had arrived in Ukraine for negotiations regarding the state of the pipeline and further steps for its restoration. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, in turn, explained that a group of Hungarian citizens entered Ukraine under general rules, without official delegation status and without planning official meetings.