Zelenskyy: I wouldn't repair Druzhba oil pipeline

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes the damaged Druzhba oil pipeline should not be repaired.

Source: Zelenskyy during a press briefing on Thursday, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine

Quote: "To be honest, I wouldn't repair it [Druzhba – ed.]. This is my position. I've said this to European leaders, and I've said it to people who have called me about this issue and to the EU leadership as well – because this is Russian oil."

Details: Zelenskyy pointed out that there are certain principles you can't put a price on. The Russians are killing Ukrainians, "yet we're supposed to give oil to Orbán because, poor thing, he can't win the elections without this oil".

The president added that the EU has said that a €90 billion loan could be blocked unless Ukraine starts repairing the pipeline.

Quote: "And I have asked for this to be [made] official as well, so that no one says we are inventing things or preventing anyone from doing anything. So we are waiting for an official request. I think it will certainly come in one format or another."

Background:

• The EU is considering providing Ukraine with financial assistance to repair the Druzhba oil pipeline in order to unblock Hungary's and Slovakia's support for Kyiv, Bloomberg has reported, citing sources.
• Supplies of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia were halted on 27 January after Russia attacked the Druzhba pipeline near the town of Brody in Lviv Oblast. Ukraine says the lack of transit is due to the damage caused and the need for repairs, which are being delayed by further Russian attacks. Meanwhile, the leaders of Slovakia and Hungary – the only EU countries still receiving Russian oil – have accused Kyiv of political motives for the suspension and have responded by blocking diesel fuel supplies to Ukraine.
• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said his country will block the adoption of a new EU sanctions package against Russia and the allocation of a €90 billion EU reparations loan to Ukraine until the Druzhba pipeline resumes operation.

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