Orbán proposes probe into oil pipeline in Ukraine amid EU funds row
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has proposed sending a delegation of experts to “check the status” of Ukraine’s Druzhba oil pipeline, which is at the center of a major dispute over additional EU funding for Ukraine.
Hungary and Slovakia accuse Ukraine of blocking the transport of Russian oil through the pipeline and have refused to back a new EU sanctions package against Moscow until operations resume.
Ukraine says the flow of the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary, was cut off late last month following Russian attacks.
Hungary also vetoed on Monday new European funding for Ukraine, amounting to 90 billion euros ($106 billion).
“I am fully aware of the political difficulties created by the delay in implementing the conclusions of the European Council on financial support for Ukraine,” Orbán wrote in the letter addressed to European Council President António Costa on Thursday and published by Politico.
“My initiative also aims to facilitate the rapid resolution of this problem.”
A spokesperson for the Hungarian Prime Minister confirmed the authenticity of the letter.
According to Orbán’s proposal, a “fact-finding mission” including experts “delegated by Hungary and Slovakia” would be sent to Ukraine to “check the condition” of the gas pipeline.
Hungary would accept the findings, Orbán said, although he did not explicitly state whether he would be willing to lift his veto on Ukraine’s funding.
