Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he is reluctant to repair a damaged oil pipeline that transports Russian crude to Central Europe, amid escalating tensions with Hungary and Slovakia regarding interruptions in oil flows. Since 27 January, Russian oil shipments to these countries have been halted following what Ukrainian officials allege were Russian drone attacks that compromised the Druzhba pipeline, which traverses Ukrainian territory.
The authoritarian prime ministers of Hungary and Slovakia, two countries that continue to import Russian fossil fuels, unlike most European Union nations, have accused Ukraine of intentionally obstructing supply. However, the Ukrainian government asserts that ongoing Russian strikes pose significant risks to technicians attempting repairs, and even if the pipeline were restored, it would remain susceptible to further attacks.
During a press conference on Thursday, President Zelenskyy stated, “To be honest, I wouldn’t restore it.” This statement comes in response to demands from Hungary and Slovakia for the pipeline’s restoration.
The government of Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán has blocked a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine due to disruptions in oil shipments. It has indicated it will veto any subsequent pro-Ukraine decisions until oil flows resume. Furthermore, Orbán, who is currently facing challenges in the polls with a significant election approaching next month, has escalated an anti-Ukraine rhetoric in Hungary, presenting the country as a threat to national stability. He has made unverified claims suggesting that Ukraine and President Zelenskyy intend to undermine Hungary’s economic standing and has warned that a loss in the election could lead to Hungary’s direct involvement in the conflict with Russia.
At an economic forum, Orbán stated, “We will win, and we will win with force” in the dispute over oil shipments. He emphasised, “We have political and financial tools, and with these, we will compel them, unconditionally and preferably as soon as possible, to reopen the Druzhba pipeline.” He further stated that there would be “no pact” and “no compromise” in this matter.
In a further development, Hungary and Slovakia have proposed dispatching a fact-finding mission to the pipeline site in western Ukraine to assess the extent of the damage and determine the potential for resuming oil flows. President Zelenskyy remarked that he has not yet received an official request from the EU for inspectors to access the site, but he expects such a request to be forthcoming.
He expressed hope that the EU’s €90 billion loan, crucial to Ukraine’s ongoing defence against Russia’s invasion, would not be obstructed by a single individual. “This is Russian oil, and there are certain principles that bear no price,” he emphasised. “They kill us, and we have to provide oil to Orbán because he cannot win elections without it?”
This article used information from The Associated Press.
