Kiev accepts EU aid and promises: 'Druzhba oil pipeline repaired in a month and a half'
From Brussels technical support and funding to unblock the supply of oil to Slovakia and Hungary. "It's a political game," replies Budapest
Key points
Pumping of the Druzhba pipeline will be able to return to its technical capacity within a month and a half. Ukraine is working on a bypass of the pipeline. This will allow the full resumption of flows' of oil, 'obviously in the absence of further attacks by Russia'. This was written by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a letter to EU leaders in which he addressed the diatribe with Hungary and Slovakia over repairs to the Friendship pipeline.
The damage, explains Zelensky - who in the meantime has landed in London to meet with Starmer - "is more severe" than in previous bombings, "because the main pipeline operates as one continuous system, and the complete disruption of the key pumping station compromises its operation. Without the Brody pumping station functioning, it is technically impossible to maintain the required operating pressure in the pipeline system and ensure the safe transit of oil'. Furthermore, Zelensky continues, 'in order to technically restore oil pumping capacity as quickly as possible, we have been working on an alternative technical solution since the first days after the attack. Repair work on the bypass solution is almost complete,' he assures.
Preliminary technical assessments, Zelensky continues, 'indicate that the damaged oil reservoir cannot be repaired. Ukraine is therefore considering the construction of underground storage infrastructure as a long-term and more sustainable solution. In this context, I welcome and accept your offer of the necessary technical support and funding to be able to complete the repair work and to explore long-term sustainable solutions'. In this regard, the Ukrainian president promises, 'I will ask the CEO of Naftogas to get in touch with the EU ambassador to follow up on this initiative. I would like to emphasise that despite the repeated mass attacks against pipeline infrastructure, Ukraine remains capable of offering alternative routes for the transit of non-Russian crude oil to Central and Eastern European countries'. The Kiev leader then emphasised "the importance of implementing the EU's decision to eliminate Russian oil imports completely under the RePowerEu initiative by the end of 2027. This would represent a decisive step towards strengthening the EU's energy independence and eliminating the vulnerabilities associated with Russia's use of energy as a weapon."
Zelensky's words come in response (affirmative) to the EU's offer to support Kiev in restoring the pipeline.
The offer from Brussels: technical support and funding
"Following the renewed Russian attacks on 27 January against the Druzhba pipeline, which caused an interruption of crude oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia, the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council started intensive discussions with Member States and Ukraine at all levels to restore the flow of oil to Hungary and Slovakia. The EU offered Ukraine technical support and funding. The Ukrainians welcomed and accepted the offer. European experts are immediately available'. It reads in a joint statement by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa. "Our priority is to ensure energy security for all European citizens. With this in mind, the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council will continue to work with stakeholders to identify alternative routes for the transit of non-Russian crude oil to Central and Eastern European countries," the EU leaders added.
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