EU expert group to visit Druzhba oil pipeline on 18 March
A group of experts from the European Union will visit the site of damage to the Druzhba oil pipeline in Ukraine on 18 March to assess the impact and the scope of work required to restore its operation.
Source: European Pravda, citing a source familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity
Details: As early as 18 March, EU experts will visit the site where the Druzhba oil pipeline was damaged by a Russian missile.
"The delegation, consisting of several engineers, is already in Kyiv," the source told European Pravda.
The source added that the group's plans and logistics are being handled by the EU Delegation to Ukraine.
According to another EU source, the expert group does not include representatives from Hungary or Slovakia.
Background:
- On 17 March, it was reported that Ukraine has accepted the EU's proposal, under which the EU will provide financial and expert support to help restore oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline.
- In a letter to EU leaders, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised to restore oil flow through the Druzhba pipeline in approximately one and a half months.
- Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has said Hungary will continue to block key EU decisions important for Ukraine until transit via Druzhba is restored.
- European Pravda also noted that a sentence linking the repair of the Druzhba oil pipeline to a €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine and the EU's 20th sanctions package against Russia has been removed from a joint statement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa dated 17 March.
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