Hungary has sent an official delegation to Ukraine to negotiate the restoration of the Druzhba pipeline’s operation and to assess its technical condition. This was announced by Hungary’s Deputy Minister of Energy Gábor Csepek in his address.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Inspection of the Pipeline’s Condition and Advocacy of Interests
According to Gábor Csepek, the Hungarian government has formed a special mission to objectively study the situation surrounding the Druzhba pipeline. The main goal of the delegation is to determine the technical condition of the facility and to create the necessary conditions for its continued operation. Csepek emphasized that the oil transported by this pipeline belongs to Hungary and is not subject to restrictions from the EU or the USA, as it is the property of the country.
“The government has created a delegation to conduct a mission to investigate the facts regarding the pipeline. Our task is to ascertain the condition of the pipeline and to create conditions for its restoration. Let it be clear to everyone that this oil belongs to Hungary, and it is not subject to any sanctions from either the EU or the USA. This oil is ours,” said Csepek, as quoted by the Hungarian publication Index.
The Hungarian government emphasizes that the mission must protect the country’s interests at the negotiating table and strive for the full restoration of the pipeline’s operation.
Context of the Situation Surrounding Druzhba and Relations with Ukraine
At this moment, the Ukrainian side has not provided official comments regarding the visit of the Hungarian delegation. It is known that the Druzhba pipeline transports Russian oil to European countries, including Hungary and Slovakia, passing through Ukrainian territory. Following the onset of the full-scale invasion by Russia, the European Union imposed a ban on the import of Russian oil; however, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria have been granted a reprieve, as these countries do not have access to the sea and depend on supplies through Druzhba. Subsequently, Austria was able to diversify its oil supplies.
At the end of January, Ukrainian officials reported that the pipeline was damaged due to shelling by Russia. However, representatives from Hungary and Slovakia deny this information, stating that recently released satellite images indicate no technical or operational obstacles to the immediate restoration of the pipeline’s operation.
Hungary and Slovakia are currently blocking the adoption of the 20th sanctions package against Russia and the allocation of a multi-billion dollar loan to Ukraine, which was agreed upon by EU leaders in December. Both countries demand the restoration of Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline as a condition for lifting their veto.
A separate issue remains the conflict surrounding the Ukrainian Oschadbank. On March 6, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Hungarian authorities detained seven Ukrainian citizens—employees of Oschadbank—who were transporting cash between Austria and Ukraine. Subsequently, all detainees were deported; however, Hungary’s Minister of Transport János Lázár reported that the funds and gold seized from the armored vehicles would not be returned to Ukraine.
This concerns approximately 40 million US dollars, 35 million euros, and 9 kilograms of gold belonging to the Ukrainian state bank. The Ukrainian side views the actions of Hungarian officials as hostage-taking and appropriation of property.