Ukraine Druzhba pipeline: Selenskyj considers repair unnecessary
Despite pressure from EU member states Hungary and Slovakia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi believes it is unnecessary to repair the Druzhba pipeline, which is important for Russian oil supplies. "Why repair it? To lose people. I think that's too big a price to pay," said Selenskyj at a joint press conference with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costas in Kiev. According to him, the Russian military is deliberately attacking repair troops.
24.02.2026, 18:01
SDA
He advised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is blocking aid to Ukraine due to the lack of deliveries, to turn to Moscow. "Russia has destroyed this pipeline several times," said Selenskyj. Orban should ask the Kremlin for an energy truce. "It cannot be that Russia destroys something and Ukraine then repairs it." Selenskyj also said that Russian oil, which is used to finance the war, has no place on the European market.
European Union urges repair
Von der Leyen, who was dressed in the blue and yellow colors of the Ukrainian flag, made it clear, however, that she and Costa had asked Ukraine to speed up repairs to the pipeline. She also thanked Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic for his efforts to secure and expand the transportation of oil via Serbia to Hungary and Slovakia via the Adriatic pipeline.
Oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline has been interrupted since a drone attack on energy facilities in the western Ukrainian city of Brody at the end of January. In response, Hungary has blocked a 90 billion euro loan from the European Union to Ukraine as well as diesel supplies. Neighboring Slovakia has also reacted by interrupting diesel exports to Ukraine.
Von der Leyen wants to circumvent Hungary's blockade if necessary
Von der Leyen also announced that she would circumvent Hungary's blocking of the loan via the EU budget if necessary. "We will provide the loan one way or another. I want to be very clear: We have various options - and we will use them," she said.
This is already the second transit stop within a year. Last August, deliveries from Russia were already briefly interrupted - due to a Ukrainian attack. The head of the Ukrainian drone forces, Robert Browdi, had previously reported a successful attack on a pumping station in the Russian region of Tambov.
Ukraine has been defending itself against Russian invasion forces with Western help for four years.
