During a press briefing, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his disappointment over the lack of gratitude from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico regarding Ukraine's repair work on the Druzhba oil pipeline. Zelenskyy pointed out that the resumption of Russian oil transit is financially beneficial for Russia, allowing them to continue funding their military actions, creating a conflict of interest for Ukraine in supporting such actions. He stressed that while European leaders stress energy security, they seem less concerned about the financial implications of supporting Russia through oil transit.

Zelenskyy recounted his conversation with Fico, emphasizing the need for EU leaders to recognize the true cost of urging Ukraine to restore oil transit channels that indirectly support Russian aggressions. He highlighted the double standard in responses to attacks on infrastructure: while there were no public appeals for restraint from Russia during strikes on the pipeline, Ukraine has faced public pressure to maintain energy supplies to Hungary and Slovakia.

The president also mentioned that the repair operations took place under perilous conditions, where workers risked their lives, and some were injured during a 'combat situation'. This adds another layer of complexity to Ukraine’s willingness to engage in repairs that ultimately support its adversaries financially while risking its workforce’s safety.