Ukraine proposed to the European Union to use alternative routes to transport Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary after the Druzhba pipeline was damaged during a Russian attack. According to the Ukrainska pravda portal, which is based on a letter from the Ukrainian mission to the EU, oil could be transported through Ukrainian infrastructure, specifically through the Odesa-Brody pipeline, or by sea with subsequent transshipment in ports. The letter was sent on February 20 and emphasizes the need to secure oil supplies to EU member states, especially Slovakia and Hungary.
- Ukraine proposed alternative routes for transporting Russian oil.
- The damage to the Druzhba pipeline caused concerns about the safety of supplies.
- Slovakia and Hungary accused Ukraine of political blackmail.
- Hungary threatened to block the EU loan to Ukraine.
- Energy security remains a tense topic in the region.
According to Ukrainian diplomats, technological and auxiliary equipment on the Druzhba pipeline was seriously damaged on January 27 as a result of the Russian attack. Technical teams are currently conducting a detailed inspection and assessing the possibilities of a quick recovery of oil transport. At the same time, Ukraine warned that the stable functioning of the oil infrastructure is only possible if Russia stops its attacks on energy facilities. Ukrainian workers are risking their lives during repairs, which the country called an unacceptable situation.
Alternative solutions for oil
However, Ukraine’s proposal provoked a sharp reaction from Hungary and Slovakia. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accused Kyiv of political blackmail. The Slovak government even declared a state of oil emergency and threatened retaliatory measures if transit through the Družba pipeline is not resumed. Meanwhile, Hungary has announced that it will block a 90 billion euro loan from the European Union to Ukraine unless the transit of Russian oil is secured.
Orbán and Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stressed that stable oil supplies are crucial for Hungary and any disruption could have serious economic consequences. At the same time, Slovakia and Hungary are heavily dependent on the supply of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline, which increases the tension between these countries and Ukraine.
Tensions are rising in the region
However, Ukraine insists that its proposal is a pragmatic solution that could ensure the continuity of oil supplies to Europe despite the damage to the Druzhba pipeline. At the same time, he warns that any further attacks on the energy infrastructure may complicate the situation even more. The European Commission has not yet officially responded to Ukraine’s proposal, but the situation indicates that the issue of energy security will be one of the main topics at the European level in the coming weeks.
At the same time, this dispute reveals the complex relations between Ukraine and its neighbors, which are affected not only by war, but also by economic and political interests. How the situation develops will depend on the willingness of all parties to find a compromise solution.
