Ukraine will not provide oil to Orban before the Hungarian elections
Ukraine may restore the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline within one to one and a half months if the European Union does not find a way to provide a €90 billion loan bypassing the Hungarian blockade. This timing would fall just after the Hungarian parliamentary elections scheduled for April 12.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated this during a briefing, noting that the issue of restoring oil transit is currently unofficially linked to the allocation of financial assistance. The head of state emphasized that he personally opposes restoring the pipeline’s operation because Hungary continues political blackmail while the Russian Federation is killing Ukrainians.
According to the president, during a conversation with the President of the European Council, António Costa, it was agreed that the head of Naftogaz, Serhii Koretskyi, would conduct a technical assessment of the time required for repairs. Zelensky noted that although the pipeline could resume operations within the indicated timeframe, this would not mean the full restoration of all destroyed infrastructure. Kyiv is currently expecting European partners to find legal options that would allow Ukraine to receive strategically important funds without complying with the ultimatums of Viktor Orban, who needs this oil for domestic political purposes.
“There are some things that have no price. They are killing us, and we are supposed to give oil to Orban because, poor thing, he cannot win the elections without this oil,” he added.
The European Union had wanted to gain access to the Druzhba oil pipeline, but Ukraine refused, the Financial Times reported.
The suspension of the Druzhba oil pipeline does not threaten the energy security of Hungary and Slovakia, the European Commission stated.
Earlier, President of the European Council António Costa and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky agreed that in the coming days Ukraine would assess how much time would be required to repair the Druzhba pipeline damaged by Russia.
Before that, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatened to stop supplying electricity to Ukraine if oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline is not restored.
