Slovak PM claims after call with Zelenskyy that Ukraine does not want to resume oil flows via Druzhba pipeline

Following a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has claimed that Ukraine has no interest in resuming the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline.

Source: Fico on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Fico claimed that Zelenskyy has refused to allow an investigative commission to enter Ukraine to assess the condition of the Druzhba pipeline, as Slovakia and Hungary have proposed.

According to Fico, the Ukrainian president declined the request, citing concerns raised by security services.

Fico added that Ukraine has so far not allowed Slovakia's ambassador or the EU representative to inspect the pipeline either.

He said, however, that he has accepted Zelenskyy's proposal to hold joint talks on Druzhba repairs and has instructed the Foreign Ministry to find a suitable date. Fico added that he would prefer the meeting to take place in an EU member state rather than in Ukraine.

Background:

• The EU Oil Coordination Group, with the participation of representatives from Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia, discussed the situation around the Druzhba pipeline on 25 February and concluded that at this stage its suspension does not pose a threat to the EU's energy security.
• Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said he would deploy troops to guard Hungarian energy facilities against an alleged "Ukrainian threat".
• The situation around the pipeline has led Slovakia and Hungary to block the adoption of the EU's 20th Russia sanctions package. In addition, Budapest has obstructed approval of a €90 billion loan for Ukraine.

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