EU diplomats slam Kiev's 'not smart' obstruction of Druzhba pipeline check
EU diplomats criticize Ukraine's refusal to allow inspection of the Druzhba oil pipeline, calling it 'not smart' amid energy supply concerns for Hungary and Slovakia.
European Union diplomats have expressed puzzlement over Ukraine's refusal to allow bloc experts to inspect the Druzhba oil pipeline, with unnamed sources describing Kiev's actions as 'not smart'. According to Euractiv, Ukraine had previously agreed to permit checks of the conduits for alleged damage but has delayed the inspection for nearly two weeks.
The Soviet-era pipeline is used to deliver Russian crude through Ukrainian territory to Hungary and Slovakia. Kiev claims the pipeline was damaged in Russian strikes, an allegation Moscow denies. Budapest has also rejected Ukraine's claims, arguing that Ukrainian authorities deliberately halted the flow for political reasons.
In early March, the European Council and European Commission presidents announced that Kiev would allow an EU-funded inspection. However, the expert team is still waiting for a green light from Ukraine to access the site, despite being in the country for weeks. 'We don't have a clear picture of what the Ukrainian play here is,' an EU diplomat told Euractiv.
The stakes are high: unblocking the pipeline would allow Hungary and Slovakia to receive energy supplies, and Ukraine could access a €90 billion EU assistance package currently blocked by Budapest. Additionally, Bratislava has threatened to veto further Russia sanctions and derail Ukraine's potential EU accession if the issue remains unresolved. Moscow, meanwhile, has accused Kiev of 'energy blackmail' against EU member states.
