Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is reportedly using the ongoing dispute over the Druzhba oil pipeline to pressure the European Union for access to a €300 million defense program. This situation has emerged alongside Hungary’s blockade of €90 billion in financial support intended for Ukraine.
According to sources, Orbán has long sought funds from Brussels for the EU’s defense initiatives. However, the EU has been reluctant to provide this funding, prompting Orbán to block the financial assistance to Ukraine. The issue regarding the Druzhba pipeline, which has been damaged by Russian attacks, is unfolding concurrently with these negotiations.
European officials believe that Ukraine should repair the pipeline and ensure the transit of Russian oil to Europe. However, Ukrainian officials are questioning the EU’s assurances regarding the unblocking of financial aid. A source stated, “We ask if they can guarantee that Orbán will unblock the €90 billion. Their responses are vague. We keep asking: what is the problem? They say we must unblock Druzhba… But Orbán was blocking the €90 billion even before this.”
As a result, Ukraine has indicated that it does not feel obligated to restore the pipeline without the unblocking of the €90 billion. The source emphasized, “If we are without the €90 billion, why should we repair a pipeline destroyed by Russians and transport Russian oil as if nothing happened? If the entire EU cannot circumvent the blockade imposed by a single politician acting in his own interest, it speaks volumes about the EU’s capabilities.”
The Druzhba pipeline, which was severely damaged by a Russian strike in late January, halted the transit of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Both the Hungarian and Slovak governments have dismissed Ukraine’s claims regarding the pipeline’s damage and are demanding access for inspections. Reports indicate that EU leadership also expressed interest in visiting the site but were denied access.
Following these developments, Brussels has seemingly sided with Hungary and Slovakia, asserting that Ukraine “scored an own goal” by halting the pipeline’s operation. On March 5, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Kyiv does not wish to restore the Druzhba pipeline, despite EU demands. He noted that Brussels has unofficially indicated that the €90 billion loan necessary for the Ukrainian military will remain blocked until the pipeline is operational again.
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is using the dispute over the damaged Druzhba oil pipeline to leverage EU defense funding while blocking significant financial aid to Ukraine. This situation highlights the complexities of EU negotiations and the impact of individual political decisions on broader regional support.