BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) – On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated his preference against repairing a damaged oil pipeline that supplies Russian crude to Central Europe. This decision comes amidst rising tensions with neighboring Hungary and Slovakia, who have been affected by interruptions in oil flows. The Druzhba pipeline, which traverses Ukrainian territory, has seen oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia halted since January 27 due to what Ukrainian officials attribute to Russian drone attacks that inflicted damage on the infrastructure.
Leaders of Hungary and Slovakia, who unlike most European Union countries continue to import Russian fossil fuels, have accused Ukraine of purposefully delaying the restoration of oil supplies. In response, Kyiv maintains that the ongoing Russian strikes pose a significant risk to technicians involved in repairs, asserting that even if the pipeline were repaired, it would still be susceptible to further attacks.
During a news conference on Thursday, President Zelenskyy expressed his reluctance to mend the pipeline despite the demands from Hungary and Slovakia. He boldly stated, “To be honest, I wouldn’t restore it. This is my position.” This reaffirmation of stance comes amid a backdrop of escalating diplomatic frictions.
Furthermore, the government led by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, often considered the Kremlin's foremost ally within the EU, has taken significant steps in response to the situation. Orbán's administration has blocked a substantial 90-billion euro ($106 billion) EU loan intended for Ukraine, linking the suspension of the loan to the interruptions in oil shipments, and he has committed to veto any further pro-Ukraine measures until oil flows are reinstated.
At the same time, Orbán, who finds himself trailing in public opinion polls ahead of a key election next month, has intensified an anti-Ukraine campaign within Hungary. He portrays Ukraine as a significant existential threat, making unsubstantiated claims that President Zelenskyy aims to drive Hungary into bankruptcy. He has warned the electorate that a loss in the upcoming election could lead to Hungary's direct involvement in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
In remarks made at an economic forum, Orbán asserted, “We will win and we will win with force” regarding the dispute with Ukraine over the oil shipments. He declared, "We have political and financial tools, and with these we will compel them, unconditionally and preferably as soon as possible, to reopen the Druzhba pipeline. I will make no pact, there will be no compromise. We will defeat them.”
In an effort to address the situation, Hungary and Slovakia have proposed dispatching a fact-finding mission to the site of the damaged pipeline in western Ukraine. Zelenskyy mentioned on Thursday that he had not yet received an official request from the EU for inspectors to assess the damage but indicated it would likely be forthcoming in one format or another.
Expressing a glimmer of hope concerning the stalled EU loan, Zelenskyy remarked, “One person” should not hinder the approval of the 90-billion euro loan that Ukraine requires to sustain its defense against Russia’s invasion. He further emphasized, “This is Russian oil, and there are certain principles that have no price. They kill us, and we have to give oil to Orbán because he cannot win elections without it?”
