Ukraine agrees to receive EU technical and financial assistance for restoring Druzhba oil pipeline

The European Union has offered Ukraine financial and technical support to restore oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia through the Druzhba pipeline, and Kyiv has agreed.

Source: European Pravda, citing a joint statement by President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of European Council António Costa

Details: Costa and von der Leyen noted that after the latest Russian strikes on 27 January on the Druzhba oil pipeline, which led to suspension of oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia, the EU launched intensive talks with member states and Ukraine at all levels in order to restore oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia.

"The EU has offered Ukraine technical support and funding. The Ukrainians have welcomed and accepted this offer. European experts are available immediately," the statement says.

The heads of the European Commission and the European Council stressed that their priority is to ensure energy security for all European citizens.

"In this sense, we will continue to work with the concerned parties on alternative routes for the transit of non-Russian crude oil to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe," von der Leyen and Costa stressed.

Background:

• Hungary and Slovakia initiated discussion of the Druzhba oil pipeline at the EU Council on 16 March.
• On the sidelines of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced that Hungary would continue blocking until Ukraine restores transit through the Druzhba oil pipeline.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed conviction that restoration of the Druzhba oil pipeline would be equivalent to lifting sanctions on Russia.

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