BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated Thursday that Kyiv is in no hurry to repair a damaged oil pipeline carrying Russian crude to Central Europe, a stance that threatens to deepen an increasingly bitter dispute with neighboring Hungary and Slovakia over disrupted energy supplies.
The pipeline in question is the Druzhba network, one of the largest and oldest oil transport systems in the world, which moves Russian crude across Ukraine to several European countries. Shipments to Hungary and Slovakia have been halted since January 27 after Ukrainian authorities said Russian drone attacks damaged a section of the infrastructure running through Ukrainian territory.
Hungarian and Slovak officials have accused Kyiv of intentionally delaying repairs in order to exert political pressure. Ukrainian authorities reject that claim, arguing that persistent Russian attacks on infrastructure have made repair work dangerous and that any restoration effort could quickly be undone by further strikes.
During a news conference in Kyiv, Zelenskyy made clear that restoring the pipeline is not a priority for his government under current circumstances.
“To be honest, I wouldn’t restore it. This is my position,” he said when asked about the future of the pipeline.
The remarks underline the widening divide between Ukraine and two of its European neighbors at a time when the war with Russia continues to reshape political alliances and energy policy across the continent.
Hungary and Slovakia remain among the few European Union members that still rely heavily on Russian fossil fuels despite the broader European effort to reduce dependence on Moscow’s energy exports following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Both countries continue to import significant volumes of Russian crude through the Druzhba pipeline, making the disruption particularly damaging to their energy supplies.
Ukrainian officials insist that the suspension of flows is a direct result of Russia’s military actions. According to Kyiv, Russian drone strikes damaged critical sections of the pipeline infrastructure, leaving technicians unable to safely conduct repairs while attacks continue.
Authorities in Ukraine also warn that even if engineers manage to restore the damaged section, the pipeline would remain exposed to additional strikes as long as hostilities persist.
The dispute has quickly escalated into a broader political confrontation, particularly with Hungary, whose government has taken an increasingly confrontational tone toward Kyiv.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has strongly criticized Ukraine over the interruption, accusing the Ukrainian government of deliberately withholding energy supplies from his country. Orbán’s administration has responded by using its influence within the European Union to pressure Kyiv.
Budapest has blocked approval of a major European financial package intended to support Ukraine’s economy and defense. The proposal involves a 90-billion-euro loan, roughly equivalent to $106 billion, designed to help Ukraine sustain its war effort and stabilize government finances.
Hungary has signaled that it will continue to block the measure unless oil shipments through the Druzhba pipeline resume. Hungarian officials have also warned that they could veto additional EU decisions related to Ukraine if the dispute remains unresolved.
Orbán, who is widely viewed by many European leaders as one of the Kremlin’s most sympathetic allies inside the European Union, has intensified his criticism of Kyiv as he faces a major election challenge at home.
Polls suggest his government is under growing political pressure ahead of next month’s vote, and his administration has launched an aggressive public campaign portraying Ukraine as a threat to Hungarian national interests.
In recent weeks, Hungarian government messaging has suggested that Ukraine’s actions could damage Hungary’s economy and even drag the country directly into the war with Russia. Orbán has also accused Zelenskyy of pursuing policies that would harm Hungary’s financial stability, though he has not presented evidence to support those claims.
Speaking at an economic forum on Thursday, Orbán vowed to confront Ukraine over the pipeline dispute and insisted that his government would use every available tool to force a reopening of the energy route.
“We have political and financial tools, and with these we will compel them, unconditionally and preferably as soon as possible, to reopen the Druzhba pipeline,” Orbán said.
He added that Hungary would not compromise in its confrontation with Kyiv.
“I will make no pact, there will be no compromise. We will defeat them,” he said.
Slovakia, which also receives oil through the Druzhba pipeline, has joined Hungary in pressing for a resolution. Both governments have proposed sending a fact-finding mission to the damaged section of the pipeline in western Ukraine to determine the extent of the destruction and assess whether oil flows could be safely restored.
The idea would involve independent inspectors visiting the site to evaluate repair prospects and provide a technical assessment of the damage.
Zelenskyy said Thursday that Ukraine had not yet received an official request from the European Union to permit inspectors to visit the location, though he indicated such a request may eventually arrive.
“I think it will certainly come in one format or another,” he said.
Despite the growing diplomatic friction, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine’s position is rooted in the realities of the ongoing war and the security risks posed by Russia’s continued attacks.
He also expressed frustration that Hungary’s political stance could jeopardize critical financial support from the European Union at a time when Ukraine remains heavily dependent on international assistance.
Zelenskyy said he hoped the EU’s proposed loan package would ultimately move forward despite Budapest’s objections.
“I hope one person will not block this decision,” he said, referring indirectly to Hungary’s leadership.
The Ukrainian president also framed the dispute in moral terms, pointing out that the oil in question originates from Russia, the country currently waging war against Ukraine.
“This is Russian oil, and there are certain principles that have no price,” Zelenskyy said.
He suggested that the pressure from Hungary reflects domestic political calculations rather than broader European interests.
“They kill us, and we have to give oil to Orbán because he cannot win elections without it?” Zelenskyy added.
As the conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues with no clear end in sight, the dispute over the Druzhba pipeline highlights the growing strain between Kyiv and some of its European neighbors. The controversy also underscores how energy dependence, domestic politics and wartime security concerns are colliding across Europe as governments navigate the far-reaching consequences of the war.