1 hour ago
Last Updated:March 03, 2026, 19:38 IST
The move comes as US and Israeli strikes on Iran rattle global energy markets, with Brussels seeking clarity on disrupted Russian oil flows.
Von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa reportedly asked to inspect the pipeline damage during talks in Kyiv but their request was declined. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE)
The EU is putting the Zelenskyy administration under pressure, urging the government in Kyiv to allow the bloc to inspect a damaged pipeline carrying Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. The development comes amid the war in West Asia after the US and Israel struck Iran, sending energy prices soaring and disrupting global oil and gas supplies.
A report by the Financial Times said some pro-Ukraine EU governments and the European Commission are asking Kyiv to allow a visit to prove that it is trying to restore oil flows via the Druzhba pipeline.
The Druzhba pipeline is one of the longest oil pipelines in the world. The word “Druzhba" means “friendship" in Russian. It was built in the 1960s when the Soviet Union sought to send oil to countries in Europe.
The pipeline starts in Russia and splits into two main branches. One branch goes through Belarus to Poland and Germany. The other passes through Ukraine and supplies oil to Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Oil from this pipeline is refined into petrol, diesel and other fuels. Because many European countries depend on it, the Druzhba pipeline is important for energy supply and politics in Europe.
Hungary and Slovakia, two pro-Kremlin countries, accuse Kyiv of overstating the impact of an attack by Moscow on the 4,000-kilometre-long pipeline.
Ukrainian officials say they have evidence of extensive destruction and need time to repair the Druzhba pipeline. But Hungary and Slovakia claim that Kyiv intentionally shut it off.
Following the standoff, the administration in Budapest led by Viktor Orban delayed approval of an EU loan for Ukraine until it is reopened. They have also proposed sending a fact-finding mission to Ukraine, together with Slovakia.
Two officials told the newspaper that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa specifically asked the Zelenskyy administration to permit access to the Druzhba pipeline in order to assess the damage independently.
Ukraine denied the request.
Ukrainian officials close to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the newspaper that technicians from state-run Naftogaz presented evidence to European counterparts showing Druzhba had been badly damaged.
Orbán has delayed approval of a €90bn EU aid package for Kyiv over the dispute, and Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico said his and Orbán’s offer of a “fact-finding mission" to Ukraine was also denied.
First Published:
March 03, 2026, 19:38 IST
News world EU Pressures Ukraine To Allow Access To Russian Oil Pipeline As Iran War Spikes Prices: Report
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