Ukraine has presented a systematic recovery plan for the Druzhba pipeline, which was damaged by Russian shelling, to Gediminas Navickas, the Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation. This was reported by the Chairman of the Board of Naftogaz of Ukraine, Serhiy Koretsky, noting that the meeting involved the leadership of Ukrtransnafta and a technical working group.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Financial and Technical Assistance from the EU
According to Serhiy Koretsky, the Naftogaz group highly appreciates the EU’s initiative to provide financial and technical assistance for the restoration of the infrastructure at the Brody pumping station. It is emphasized that the reconstruction should be carried out in accordance with modern European safety and engineering standards, as well as taking measures to prevent further terrorist attacks.
“The Naftogaz group values the EU’s offer of financial and technical assistance for the restoration of the infrastructure assets of the Brody pumping station in line with the best European engineering and safety standards and countering further terrorist attacks. Together with Deputy Head of the EU Delegation Gediminas Navickas, we met with the technical working group. Along with the leadership of Ukrtransnafta, we provided our partners with detailed information about the consequences of the Russian attack on the Druzhba pipeline infrastructure. We discussed the current state of affairs and presented a systematic recovery plan. We outlined the next joint actions.”
European Expertise and Political Context
Earlier, EU representatives reported that the unlocking of a €90 billion loan for Ukraine depends on the restoration of the Druzhba pipeline’s operation or at least on allowing European experts to assess its condition. On March 17, it became known that a delegation of European engineers, qualified to inspect the damages caused by Russian strikes, arrived in Kyiv.
EU representatives informally stated that the experts inspecting the Druzhba pipeline do not represent Hungary or Slovakia to avoid bias during the assessment.
After the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation, the European Union banned the import of Russian oil. However, exceptions were made for Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria, as these countries are landlocked and depend on supplies through the Druzhba pipeline. Subsequently, Austria was able to diversify its oil supply sources.
The Druzhba pipeline transports Russian oil through Ukraine to Europe, particularly to Hungary and Slovakia. Ukrainian officials emphasize that the pipeline was damaged as a result of Russian shelling at the end of January. Meanwhile, representatives from Hungary and Slovakia deny this. In particular, Hungary states that satellite data does not confirm the existence of technical or operational reasons for halting the operation of the Druzhba pipeline.
On March 11, Hungary’s Deputy Minister of Energy, Gábor Czepek, reported the dispatch of a Hungarian delegation to Ukraine for negotiations regarding the restoration of the pipeline’s operation and to assess its condition. According to him, the purpose of the visit is to protect Hungary’s interests at the negotiating table and to restore the operation of the Druzhba pipeline.
At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine emphasized that they are aware of the arrival of a group of Hungarian citizens who came to Ukraine “under general rules,” but this group does not have official status or planned official meetings, so it is incorrect to refer to them as a “delegation.”