The move sparked new tensions between Kiev and some members of the European Union (EU), as the bloc is pushing to restore energy flows.
According to the Financial Times (FT) on March 3, Ukraine has rejected the EU's proposal to send an inspection team to the Druzhba pipeline - a system that transports Russian oil through Ukraine to Central Europe since the Soviet era.
The Druzhba oil pipeline has long been a lifeline supplying oil to Hungary and Slovakia. The two countries accuse Ukraine of deliberately blocking the flow through the pipeline, while Kiev claims infrastructure has been damaged by Russian airstrikes in January.
Some EU member states supporting Ukraine, along with the European Commission, have asked Kiev to allow the inspection team to go to the field, to prove that the country is making efforts to restore oil transportation.
Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa were said to have directly requested access to the pipeline for inspection, but the Ukrainian side refused.
A FT source said that preventing inspections is no different from "shooting yourself in the foot", because it creates an excuse for Hungary to veto important EU initiatives related to Ukraine.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on March 3rd announced on social network X that he had sent a letter to Ms. von der Leyen, requesting the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, which "forces Ukraine to allow oil transportation to Hungary".
Mr. Orban affirmed: "According to the satellite evidence just released, there is no technical or operational reason to prevent the immediate restoration of the pipeline's normal operation.
Hungary and Slovakia previously proposed sending a fact-finding mission to check the condition of the pipeline, but all efforts were rejected.
FT sources said that Ukraine's refusal to accept the inspection could cause Hungary to use its veto power over the $106 billion emergency loan package for Ukraine as well as the 20th round of EU sanctions against Russia.
Relations between Kiev and Budapest are already tense. In August last year, Hungary imposed sanctions on Ukraine's top drone commander Robert Brovdi after attacks targeting sections of the Druzhba pipeline on Russian territory.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly called on Hungary to stop buying oil from Russia, considering this as a financial source to help Moscow maintain the war.
In that context, some EU members, including France and Germany, oppose the idea of accelerating the process of admitting Ukraine, citing concerns about rampant corruption.
