The European Union has increased pressure on Ukraine to allow European inspectors access to the “Druzhba” oil pipeline, which transports Russian oil to Central European countries, including Hungary and Slovakia. This was reported by Western media citing EU sources and European diplomats.

Ukraine maintains that the pipeline was severely damaged by a Russian strike on energy infrastructure in January and that repairs require time and strict safety precautions. Kyiv has already provided European partners with documentation and evidence of the damage, including photos of a large storage tank engulfed in flames.

However, several EU countries, particularly Hungary and Slovakia, accuse Ukraine of deliberately delaying repairs and obstructing inspections, insisting there are no technical reasons to halt oil supplies. These countries have also taken steps to block a multibillion-euro aid package to Ukraine within the EU until shipments resume.

During a visit to Kyiv, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa called on Ukrainian authorities to grant access to the damaged section for damage assessment and inspection of restoration progress, but were denied. Kyiv cited security concerns and the unexplored condition of the destroyed infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s top energy official stated that the fire caused by the attack was so extensive that assessing the condition of the pipeline’s underground sections requires time, and repairs could endanger workers’ safety. Kyiv also expressed concern that the situation is being used as political leverage.

The dispute over the Druzhba pipeline is heightening tensions between Ukraine and certain EU countries, while Brussels seeks to balance regional energy stability with Ukraine’s interests amid the ongoing war.

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#UKRAINE

04.03.2026 09:44