Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is advocating for the European Union to initiate a factual investigation of the damage to the Druzhba oil pipeline. This call comes in light of ongoing logistic and political complexities regarding EU financial support for Ukraine. Orbán expressed that by deploying EU experts to confirm the state of the pipeline, it could potentially pave the way for the unlocking of substantial EU loans for Ukraine, which have been delayed.

In his correspondence with European Council President Antonio Costa, Orbán emphasized the importance of verifying the pipeline’s status and mentioned that Hungary and Slovakia could contribute by delegating their experts to this mission. He acknowledged the existing political challenges linked to the delay in providing Ukraine with these critical financial resources and stated that his proactive initiative aims to expedite resolving the issues surrounding the pipeline’s operations and associated sanctions against Russia.

This move by Hungary showcases its strategic positioning within the EU, especially considering its recent actions to block new sanctions against Russia as well as the suspension of an EU loan for Ukraine. The ongoing situation further complicates the broader geopolitical landscape as Kyiv continues to report that the Druzhba pipeline remains unresolved following damage attributed to Russian actions. If the proposed EU fact-finding mission proceeds, it may have significant implications on the support Ukraine receives and the EU’s stance on relations with both Russia and its member states.