The damage to the pipeline has become a source of friction between Kyiv and allies Budapest and Bratislava, with the latter two being importers of Russian oil.
Ukraine has accepted the European Union’s offer of technical support and funding to restore oil flows through the damaged Druzhba pipeline.
The Druzhba pipeline is a roughly 2,485-mile artery carrying Russian oil into the landlocked heart of Europe. Damage to the pipeline has disrupted crude oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa said in a March 17 joint statement that Ukraine had “welcomed and accepted” the offer, adding that European experts would be available to assist Kyiv immediately.
“Our priority is to ensure energy security for all European citizens,” they said. “In this sense, the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council will continue to work with the concerned parties on alternative routes for the transit of non-Russian crude oil to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.”
Damage to the pipeline in Ukraine has become a source of friction between Kyiv and Budapest and Bratislava, with the latter two being importers of Russian oil through the pipeline that travels through Ukraine.
Hungary and Slovakia have been cut off from supplies of Russian oil via the route since Jan. 27, when Kyiv said that pipeline equipment was damaged by a Russian strike in western Ukraine.
Budapest and Bratislava have said Kyiv is delaying the resumption of oil flows through the pipeline.
Ukraine has denied the allegations, saying it has been working to repair the damage as quickly as possible.
