Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has stated that his recent conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted differing perspectives on the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline. Fico noted that while Slovak intelligence reports indicate the pipeline is undamaged and capable of continuing oil transit, Zelensky asserted that repairs would require considerable time.
In a post on social media platform X, Fico mentioned that he and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban proposed the formation of an inspection group. This group would consist of experts appointed by the European Commission and EU member states, tasked with assessing the actual state of any technological damage to the pipeline and its capacity to resume oil transit to Slovakia.
Fico reported that Zelensky rejected this inspection initiative, citing a negative stance from Ukrainian intelligence agencies. In response, Zelensky suggested a joint meeting with Slovak representatives to discuss all aspects of Ukrainian-Slovak cooperation. Fico accepted the invitation, proposing that the meeting take place on the territory of an EU member state.
Dmytro Lytvyn, an advisor to the Ukrainian president, addressed inquiries from journalists regarding the alleged rejection of the inspection. He clarified that Fico had been invited to Ukraine specifically to discuss existing issues directly, rather than through social media or media outlets, emphasizing the seriousness of the matter.
Earlier in the day, President Zelensky confirmed the talks with Fico and reiterated his invitation for further discussions in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Orban announced on February 27 that he was consulting with Fico, noting that another day had passed without the resumption of oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline.
On February 26, Orban publicly criticized Kyiv in an open letter and video message, accusing Ukraine of blocking the Druzhba pipeline and calling for greater respect for Hungary. He also reached out to the European Union on February 25, requesting a fact-finding mission to assess the pipeline’s damage in Ukraine, suggesting that this could facilitate new EU funding for Ukraine.
Slovakia and Hungary are currently blocking the approval of the 20th sanctions package against Russia and a multi-billion euro loan for Ukraine, which EU leaders agreed upon at a recent summit. Both countries have pledged to maintain their veto until the transportation of Russian crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline is restored.
Ukrainian officials claim that the pipeline was damaged due to Russian shelling in late January, a claim that Hungarian and Slovak officials dispute. On February 23, the European Commission confirmed that Russia had damaged the Druzhba pipeline but also noted Ukraine’s obligations to repair it, with timelines dependent on Ukrainian actions.
Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, the EU has prohibited the purchase of Russian oil. However, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria were granted extensions due to their lack of access to maritime routes, which limits their ability to receive oil tankers from other countries, making them reliant on the Druzhba pipeline.
The Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Ukraine, facilitates the transportation of Russian oil to Europe, including Hungary and Slovakia. According to research from the Finnish Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and the Bulgarian Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD), the import of Russian crude oil to Hungary and Slovakia from 2022 to 2024 is projected to yield the Kremlin approximately €5.4 billion in revenue, equating to the cost of 1,800 Iskander-M ballistic missiles.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have expressed differing views on the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline. Fico proposed an inspection group to assess the pipeline's status, which Zelensky declined, leading to ongoing discussions about cooperation between the two nations.