Arabic version: زيلينسكي يتهم حلفاء الاتحاد الأوروبي بالضغط بسبب نزاع خط أنابيب النفط
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused European allies of seeking to “blackmail” Kyiv into reopening a pipeline transporting Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. He stated that restoring the flow of Russian crude oil through Ukraine would equate to lifting economic sanctions on Moscow. The Soviet-era Druzhba oil pipeline was damaged by Russian air strikes in January and has yet to be repaired.
Hungary, which heavily relies on Russian energy, is blocking new EU sanctions against Moscow and a crucial €90 billion loan for Ukraine until the pipeline is operational again. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has made his hostility towards Ukraine a significant issue as his party approaches elections in April, trailing in opinion polls.
According to BBC News, the EU has urged Zelensky to expedite the repairs and allow inspectors to assess the damage. Some EU officials worry that Zelensky’s resistance could potentially aid Orban’s re-election campaign. Zelensky, however, expressed his firm opposition to allowing Russian oil to transit through Ukraine while the EU has imposed sanctions on its sale elsewhere.
He remarked, “We either sell Russian oil or we don’t. Because [the EU] are forcing me to restore Druzhba. How is this different from lifting sanctions on the Russians?” Zelensky also criticized the EU’s conditions, stating that if Ukraine is denied weapons, he feels powerless to comply with their demands. He labeled the situation as blackmail, emphasizing that he is against the resumption of Russian oil transit.
In addition to the pipeline issue, Zelensky highlighted the risks posed to Ukraine by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, noting that the United States is currently more focused on that region. He expressed concern over potential delays in weapon deliveries and reductions in critical defensive supplies for Ukraine. He reiterated his opposition to any relaxation of sanctions against Russia, calling such policies detrimental to global stability.
