EU Commission president calls for faster repairs to Druzhba pipeline during Kyiv visit

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has condemned Russian strikes on the Ukrainian city of Brody that damaged the Druzhba oil pipeline and has called for repairs to be accelerated.

Source: European Pravda

Details: Von der Leyen said that Russian strikes on Druzhba had a direct impact on the EU's energy security and strongly condemned the attacks.

She also thanked Croatia's Prime Minister Andrej Plenković for proposals to supply oil to Hungary, Slovakia and Serbia via the Trans Adriatic pipeline.

Von der Leyen said the EU is also calling for faster repairs to the pipeline after the Russian strikes.

Background:

• The halt in supplies of Russian oil through Druzhba after the pipeline had been damaged by Russian strikes in late January forced Slovakia and Hungary to declare an emergency in the oil sector and led to a sharp confrontation between Budapest and Bratislava against Ukraine.
• On 23 February, Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico ordered a halt to emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine and said he could review Slovakia's stance on Ukraine joining the EU. Hungary has threatened the same step.
• Bratislava claims Ukraine is not allowing Slovak specialists to visit the site where the Druzhba pipeline was struck to inspect the situation.
• Earlier, Hungary and Slovakia suspended diesel fuel exports to Ukraine.
• Slovakia's opposition has criticised the pressure on Ukraine and wants to take Fico to court over his decision on emergency electricity supplies.

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