A major diplomatic crisis has erupted between Ukraine and Hungary over the damaged Druzhba oil pipeline, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy making remarks that Budapest has interpreted as a death threat against Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The escalating dispute has stalled a crucial €90 billion European Union aid package for Ukraine, putting Brussels in an increasingly difficult position.
According to reports, the crisis centers on the Druzhba pipeline, which was reportedly damaged in a Russian attack in late January and has remained out of service since. Hungary and Slovakia are the last two EU member states still importing significant volumes of Russian oil via this route. Zelenskyy stated at a press conference in Kyiv that Ukraine could repair the pipeline within a month or two but sees no technical or safety reason to do so while Russia continues its war against Ukraine.
Hopefully, no one in the EU will block the €90bn tranche to arm Ukrainian soldiers. Otherwise, we'll give our troops that person's phone number and let them speak to him in their own language.
The situation escalated dramatically when Zelenskyy reportedly said, "Hopefully, no one in the EU will block the €90bn tranche to arm Ukrainian soldiers. Otherwise, we'll give our troops that person's phone number and let them speak to him in their own language." Budapest interpreted this as a direct threat against Orbán's life, with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó condemning the statement in unusually strong terms.
In response, Orbán has reportedly asked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to "increase political pressure" on Ukraine to restart crude deliveries through the Soviet-era pipeline. He claims there is "no technical or operational reason" preventing the pipeline from returning to normal operations immediately and accuses Ukraine of political interference in Hungary's upcoming April parliamentary elections.
Ukraine could repair the pipeline within a month or two but sees no technical or safety reason to do so while Russia continues its war against Ukraine.
The European Commission has stated that the Druzhba pipeline has been "rendered non-operational" following the Russian attack and continues to work with all member states concerned. However, Hungary has reportedly blocked the €90 billion EU aid package for Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of political blackmail over the pipeline shutdown. With Orbán showing no signs of withdrawing his veto, officials in Brussels are reportedly exploring legal avenues to bypass the Hungarian veto as Ukraine faces a tight timeline for receiving fresh aid in early April.
Increase political pressure on Ukraine to restart crude deliveries through the Soviet-era pipeline.
No technical or operational reason preventing the pipeline from returning to normal operations immediately.