The EU has pledged its support for repairing the Druzhba pipeline in Ukraine. This announcement came after talks with Ukraine, Hungary, and Slovakia, shared by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa on Tuesday.
The pipeline links Russian oil fields to refineries in Eastern and Central Europe. Damage to it has disrupted the supply of oil to Hungary and the Slovak Republic. The EU’s goal is now to restore the pipeline’s flow and reestablish oil deliveries.
The EU offered technical assistance and financing, which Ukraine welcomed and accepted. European experts will be available immediately to help with the work, emphasizing that energy security for all European citizens is a top priority.
In addition, the parties are working on alternative routes for the transit of non‑Russian crude into Central and Eastern European countries. This is also described as a necessary step to revive discussions about urgently needed financial aid to Ukraine and the 20th sanctions package before the European Council.
Hungary recently tied its approval for Ukraine’s access to €90 billion in EU loans for the pipeline’s restoration to the condition that the funds be made available. In this context, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selesnyj described the situation as “blackmail”.