The Hungarian delegation in Ukraine is assessing the state of the “Druzhba” oil pipeline to restore its operation and continue the transportation of Russian oil to Hungary. The head of the delegation, Gábor Csépe, expressed hope for successful negotiations with Ukrainian colleagues and representatives of the European Commission.
The visit of the Hungarian delegation to the “Druzhba” pipeline, led by State Secretary Gábor Csépe, was an important step in intergovernmental negotiations. Hungarian government spokesman Zoltán Kovács noted that the mission aims to protect Hungary’s interests in the negotiations. They plan to discuss energy security issues with Ukrainian energy authorities and EU representatives.
Hungary believes that access to affordable eastern energy resources is a key factor for stable energy security and maintaining the system of protecting utility costs in the country.
This issue has gained relevance amid a statement by the Ukrainian president, who previously noted that the repair of the “Druzhba” pipeline should not be an immediate decision, instead expressing a desire to personally inspect the facility together with Robert Fico, the Slovak Prime Minister. However, Ukraine has already declared its unwillingness to accept ultimatums on this matter.
Ukraine’s firm stance on the conditions for restoring the pipeline has already caused international resonance. Poland previously expressed concerns about the impact of such a decision on the energy market of Eastern Europe, which is increasingly dependent on diversifying energy sources.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 2 | The President of Ukraine proposed Robert Fico to visit “Druzhba” in Ukraine |
| March 5 | Statement by President Zelensky on potential pipeline restoration |
| March 7 | Ukraine rejects ultimatums from Hungary |
| March 10 | Slovak Prime Minister shows the pipeline photo to the European Commission |
