The European Commission expects that the repair of the Druzhba pipeline will be carried out, despite the recent change of government in Hungary following Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s defeat in the elections on April 12. According to European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho, proposals for providing expert support and funding for the repairs remain valid.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Position of the European Commission and statement from the President of Ukraine
During a briefing on April 14, Paula Pinho emphasized that the European Commission is ready to inspect the pipeline and finance the necessary work to restore oil supplies. She also noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stressed the importance of completing the repairs and outlined a timeline for the restoration of the Druzhba’s operation.
“We have also heard President Volodymyr Zelensky speak about the need to complete the repair work. He outlined the timelines and the prospects for resuming oil transportation through this pipeline.”
While in Berlin on April 14, Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Ukraine will partially repair the Druzhba pipeline by the end of April. According to him, the work will proceed gradually, and the full restoration of the tanks will take more time; however, the operation of the pipeline will be ensured by the end of the month. At the same time, the president emphasized the importance of synchronizing this step with the decisions of EU member states, particularly Hungary, regarding the unblocking of financial assistance to Ukraine.
Change of government in Hungary and possible consequences
The Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Ukrainian territory, was damaged due to Russian shelling on January 27. Viktor Orbán, while serving as Hungary’s Prime Minister, demanded the restoration of its operation while blocking a 90 billion euro loan from the European Union for Ukraine.
After the victory of opposition candidate Péter Madyar, there is hope in Brussels that the situation will change. Madyar has already expressed readiness to lift Budapest’s veto on financial support for Ukraine, which could expedite the resolution of the pipeline repair issue.
At the same time, Péter Madyar does not plan a quick abandonment of imports of Russian energy resources, advocating for a gradual transition to alternative energy sources by 2035. This differs from the position of the European Commission, which aims to completely abandon Russian energy by the end of the current year.