Ukraine’s decision to host an EU mission to inspect the Druzhba pipeline that carries Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia has divided and frustrated national capitals and Brussels.
“Not smart”, “an enigma” and “ambiguous”, are some of the words used in the diplomatic corridors to describe Kiev’s resistance to a sent team. to inspect pipeline blown up in the current conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
“We don’t have a clear picture of what Ukraine’s game is here,” said one EU diplomat.
According to the notices given to EuractivThe EU inspection team – made up of national experts but coordinated by the European Commission – has been in Ukraine for weeks waiting approval from Kiev to go to the site of the latest attack on the crucial energy pipeline.
So far that approval has not come.
On the other hand, Hungary has blocked a 90 billion euro loan that EU leaders agreed to in December. “No oil = no money”, Viktor Orbán, Hungarian Prime Minister posted recently on the internet.
At a summit on March 19, EU leaders criticized Orban for returning to past agreements. But now, even patience with Kiev is running out.
“If Druzhba is unblocked, all sides win,” said another EU diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to speak freely, calling the obstruction “a puzzle.”
“The EU wants to pass another package of sanctions and put pressure on Russia, Ukraine needs the loan, Hungary and Slovakia are critically dependent on oil flows and are working with reserves or setting double prices.”
“The only way out of this impasse is to check the situation on the ground and see what the truth is.”
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Zelenskyy had previously indicated openness to the EU mission, but also said yes they hesitate to repair the pipeline.
“I welcome and accept your offer for the necessary technical support and funding to complete the repair work,” Zelenskyy wrote in one. paper Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa ahead of a summit of EU leaders earlier this month.
Other diplomats were more sympathetic to Ukraine.
“On a human level, can you understand why you would repair something that is funding the other side’s war machine?” said an EU diplomat. “It is an absurd situation”, they said with another underlining that “it is a country at war”.
“We in the EU are moving away from Russian gas and oil. It is possible to have alternatives. Everything about Druzhba should be seen in this context,” said a third diplomat.
Ukraine’s diplomatic representation in the EU declined to comment.
EU foreign ministers are in Kiev today to mark the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre, in which Russian soldiers killed Ukrainian civilians on a large scale at the start of a full-scale invasion in 2022.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó is expected to skip the meeting, although a Hungarian delegation will attend on Tuesday, three officials before said Euractiv.
Nicoletta Ionta contributed to this report
(bw, jp)
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