Ukraine Rejects EU Mission to Inspect Russian Oil Pipeline

(MENAFN) Ukraine has rejected a proposed European Union mission to inspect the Soviet-era pipeline carrying Russian oil through its territory to Central Europe, according to reports citing diplomatic sources.

Hungary and Slovakia have accused Ukraine of intentionally blocking flows through the Druzhba pipeline, while Kyiv maintained that the infrastructure suffered damage from Russian strikes in January.

The EU has been urging Ukraine to restore the pipeline’s operation, emphasizing the importance of uninterrupted oil transit to Central Europe. Some pro-Ukrainian EU member states and officials from the European Commission reportedly requested that Ukraine allow an inspection to demonstrate that efforts are underway to resume oil flows. Last week, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa personally sought access to the pipeline but were denied.

Sources suggested that Ukraine’s refusal may have backfired, giving Hungary a reason to block a planned $106 billion emergency loan for Kyiv and delaying the EU’s 20th round of sanctions against Russia.

In response, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban posted on X that he had written to von der Leyen demanding enforcement of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, which “obliges Ukraine to allow oil shipments to Hungary.”

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