BRUSSELS/VIENNA — The European Union has intensified diplomatic pressure on Ukraine to permit access and inspections of the Druzhba oil pipeline, a vital artery that historically carried Russian crude to several EU member states, amid an escalating dispute that has significant implications for the bloc’s energy security and financial support for Kyiv.
The pipeline, one of the oldest and longest in the world, has been out of operation since January 27 after what Ukrainian authorities say was a Russian airstrike on the Brody pumping station in western Ukraine, a claim underscored by satellite imagery showing extensive damage and a subsequent fire.
Ukraine maintains the strike and ongoing security concerns, make immediate repairs risky and complex.
Brussels has urged Kyiv to grant access for inspections and repair work, saying that verification of the pipeline’s condition is essential to unblock wider political and economic disagreements.
However, Ukraine has resisted independent inspections on security grounds, arguing that the war environment and repeated strikes complicate access and prolong restoration efforts.
The dispute has taken on broader political dimensions after Hungary and Slovakia, the two remaining EU countries that still import Russian oil via the Druzhba network, accused Ukraine of deliberately prolonging the disruption for political leverage.
In response, Hungary has blocked a €90 billion European Union aid package to Ukraine, arguing that Kyiv must first ensure the pipeline’s operational restart before financial support can proceed.
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has also released satellite images claiming the infrastructure is intact and urged Kyiv to “restart the Druzhba pipeline,” accusing Ukraine of “blackmail,” a position that Kyiv rejects, insisting Russian forces were responsible for the damage.
Meanwhile, EU officials and some member states have proposed a fact‑finding mission involving Hungarian and Slovak experts to assess the pipeline’s condition.
The European Commission has not ruled out participating in such a mission, but it insists Ukraine’s approval is necessary for it to proceed.
The stand‑off has underscored divisions within the EU over energy policy, sanctions enforcement, and support for Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing war.
The pipeline dispute has further complicated Brussels’ attempts to adopt new sanctions against Moscow and deepen financial assistance to Kyiv.
As the situation unfolds, the EU faces mounting pressure to balance geopolitical strategy, internal cohesion among member states, and long‑term energy transition goals, even as Kyiv prioritizes its security and defense against external aggression.
