Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he did not want to repair the Russian oil pipeline to Central Europe, although tensions with Hungary and Slovakia increased due to disrupted supply.
On March 5, Mr. Zelensky said that Ukraine does not want to restore the Druzhba oil pipeline, the route to transport Russian crude oil to Central Europe, despite pressure from Hungary and Slovakia.
Speaking at a press conference, President Zelensky affirmed that he did not want to restore the pipeline despite requests from Hungary and Slovakia. "Honestly, I do not want to restore this pipeline. That is my point of view," Zelensky said.
Russia's oil supply to Hungary and Slovakia has been disrupted since January 27, after drone attacks that Ukraine allegedly carried out by Russia damaged the Druzhba oil pipeline running through Ukrainian territory.
Hungary and Slovakia, two countries that continue to import fossil fuels from Russia while most European Union (EU) countries have reduced dependence, accuse Ukraine of deliberately delaying the restoration of oil supplies.
Kiev said that Russia's continuous attacks make the repair dangerous and even if repaired, the Druzhba oil pipeline still risks continuing to be attacked.
The Hungarian government led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has blocked a 90 billion euro (about 106 billion USD) EU loan to Ukraine on the grounds that oil supplies are disrupted. Budapest also announced that it will veto all decisions in favor of Ukraine by the EU until oil flows are restored.
Speaking at an economic forum on March 6, Mr. Orbán said Hungary would win the dispute with Ukraine over oil supplies. "We have political and financial tools, and we will use them to force them to reopen the Druzhba pipeline, unconditionally and as soon as possible. I will not sign any agreement, there will be no compromise. We will defeat them" - he said.
Hungary and Slovakia have proposed sending a field survey team to the pipeline area in western Ukraine to assess the extent of damage and the possibility of restoring oil supply.
President Zelensky said he has not received an official request from the EU to allow inspectors to access this area, but believes that the proposal "will sooner or later be made in some form".
The Ukrainian President also expressed hope that "an individual" will not continue to hinder the EU's 90 billion euro loan, an important financial source for Kiev in the context of the conflict. "That is Russian oil, and there are principles that cannot be bargained on" - Mr. Zelensky noted.
