Hungary has sent a delegation to Kyiv to discuss the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline and hold talks with Ukrainian officials, Hungarian outlet Telex reported on Wednesday, March 11.
The delegation’s goal is to conduct talks not only with Ukraine’s energy authorities but also with ambassadors in Kyiv and a representative of the European Commission.
The group is led by Gábor Czepek, parliamentary state secretary at Hungary’s Ministry of Energy. According to the report, it also includes an oil industry expert, a government official experienced in international relations, and an energy market analyst. Hungarian oil company MOL has also delegated a representative.
Before traveling to Kyiv, the delegation held consultations in Bratislava with Slovak energy officials and market participants. Slovakia has agreed to join the Hungarian initiative.
Hungary and Ukraine have been locked in a dispute over the Druzhba pipeline after infrastructure linked to the route was damaged during a Russian attack earlier this year. Kyiv says the strike caused serious technical damage requiring lengthy repairs, while Budapest argues the problem has already been fixed and accuses Ukraine of blocking oil shipments for political reasons.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has escalated pressure on Kyiv over the issue, including threatening to block EU financial support for Ukraine and limit electricity exports.
Orbán has also published satellite images that he claims prove there are no technical obstacles to restarting the pipeline. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded that satellite imagery cannot show the condition of underground pipelines and said the Druzhba line suffered severe internal damage and cannot resume operations without repairs
Oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline was disrupted earlier this year after Ukraine said infrastructure at the Brody pumping station had been damaged in a Russian attack. The pipeline carries Russian crude to Central European countries, including Hungary and Slovakia.
Tensions between Kyiv and Budapest have escalated in recent days. On March 5, Orban said Hungary could “break the Ukrainian oil blockade by force,” while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the pipeline could theoretically resume operations within “a month to a month-and-a-half.”
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