Ukraine has accepted the EU’s offer of technical assistance and financial support for the repair of the Drujba pipeline and the resumption of oil transfer to Hungary and Slovakia, announced on Tuesday the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa.
In a letter to the EU, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the pipeline repairs are nearly completed, and the pumping station should be rebuilt in about a month and a half “in the absence of further attacks from Russia”, writes Agerpres.
Hungary announced on Monday that it will continue to block a European loan of 90 billion euros for Ukraine and new EU sanctions against Russia until the oil flow through the Drujba pipeline, interrupted since the end of January, is resumed.
Kiev claims that the pipeline was hit by the Russians in western Ukraine, while Budapest and Bratislava accuse the Ukrainians of prolonged interruption.
In the letter to Costa and to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, Zelensky dismisses as “unfounded” the accusations that Ukraine is intentionally obstructing the oil transport through Drujba.
The two European leaders replied to the Ukrainian president in another letter, in which they explain the importance of oil transfer through Ukraine for market stability and mention that the resumption of flow would be in accordance with Ukraine’s contractual obligations. They also reaffirm their commitment to the gradual cessation of oil imports from Russia, with a complete interruption to take place no later than the end of next year.