US EditionEU-Ukrainian Leaders Tackle Druzhba Pipeline Dilemma
Ukraine refused EU leaders access to assess Druzhba pipeline damage, prompting Hungary and Slovakia to claim the pipeline is operational and take retaliatory energy measures.
- On Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa sought to inspect the Druzhba pipeline but were denied access by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, confirmed by five EU diplomats.
- Naftogaz's chief said a storage tank holding 75,000 cubic metres caught fire, taking 10 days to extinguish, and a full assessment is expected soon.
- Hungary and Slovakia argue the Druzhba pipeline remains operational, with Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary, presenting satellite imagery on Monday and urging enforcement of the EU‑Ukraine Association Agreement on Tuesday.
- Blocking the loan, Orbán announced he would block the EUR 90 billion military loan until oil supplies resume, while Budapest also blocked the 20th sanctions package and Slovakia suspended electricity exports, and an EU diplomat said Kyiv 'had scored an own goal'.
- EU diplomats told the FT `We cannot say if there is damage or not` and criticized Kyiv for lacking easy documentary proof, amid Hungary's election debate over Druzhba pipeline issues.
16 Articles
16 Articles
The EU is intensifying pressure on Ukraine due to the situation surrounding the damaged Friends pipeline, writing The Financial Times, and according to the publication, Brussels demanded that a European inspection be allowed there.
Kyiv Blocks Top EU Leaders from Visiting Druzhba Pipeline
Ukraine denied European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa access to the Druzhba pipeline during their visit to Kyiv on 24 February, according to EU diplomats cited by Financial Times. The recently published article states that von der Leyen and Costa specifically asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to allow them to visit the pipeline in order to independently assess the damage allege…
EU Chief to Discuss Energy Security with Ukraine
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is set to discuss “energy security” with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, March 3rd. The talks come as Hungary remains locked in a bitter row with Kyiv over the blocked Druzhba oil pipeline. Hungary and Slovakia have accused Ukraine of deliberately delaying the restoration of flow through the pipeline. Kyiv, however, maintains that the infrastructure was severely damaged by Rus…
The newspaper also writes that Ukraine has repeatedly rejected this, citing security reasons.
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