Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that the restoration of the Druzhba pipeline, which was severely damaged due to a Russian strike at the end of January, may take from one to one and a half months. At the same time, he emphasized that a final decision regarding the repairs has not yet been made, considering strategic and political aspects.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Kiev’s Position and Conditions for International Mission Access
During a briefing, Zelensky noted that Ukraine is awaiting an official request from the European Commission regarding the access of its representatives to the site of the pipeline damage. The president remarked that the Ukrainian side has openly acknowledged the fact of the destruction and expressed confidence that such confirmation is sufficient for European partners.
“We clearly stated that there is destruction; I don’t think EU representatives do not trust us. I believe our word is enough,” the president said at the briefing in response to a question about allowing European Commission representatives to the site of the pipeline damage.
Responding to a question about the future of the pipeline, Zelensky expressed his personal position on the advisability of its restoration, as he believes it would facilitate further exports of Russian oil, which funds aggression against Ukraine.
Dispute Between EU Countries and Consequences for Ukraine
The situation surrounding the Druzhba has become a subject of discussion between Ukraine, Hungary, and Slovakia. The latter two countries are blocking the approval of the 20th sanctions package against Russia and the provision of multi-billion financial assistance to Ukraine, demanding the resumption of Russian oil supplies through the pipeline. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials insist that the damage is a result of Russian shelling, while representatives from Hungary and Slovakia reject these claims.
The European Commission confirmed that the damage to the pipeline was caused by Russian actions and emphasized that Ukraine has an obligation to repair the facility; however, the timelines depend directly on the Ukrainian side.
After the onset of full-scale aggression, the EU imposed a ban on the purchase of Russian oil, but Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria received temporary exemptions due to their lack of access to the sea. Subsequently, Austria was able to diversify its supplies and is no longer dependent on Russian energy resources.
The Druzhba pipeline runs through Ukraine and facilitates the transit of Russian oil to Europe, primarily to Hungary and Slovakia.
According to analytics from the Finnish Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and the Bulgarian Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), from 2022 to 2024, the import of Russian crude oil to Hungary and Slovakia brought the Russian budget 5.4 billion euros. This amount is equivalent to the cost of approximately 1800 Iskander-M missiles.