Hungary asks EU to verify Druzhba pipeline damage

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has formally requested that the European Union dispatch a fact-finding mission to investigate the extent of damage to the Druzhba oil pipeline located in Ukraine. In a letter addressed to European Council President Antonio Costa, Orban proposed that the mission include technical experts from Hungary and Slovakia to verify the operational status of the critical energy link. The proposal comes as Budapest seeks a path toward unblocking a substantial EU loan for Kyiv, which has been stalled due to disagreements over energy security and regional sanctions. Orban indicated that a clear, expert-led assessment of the pipeline could help resolve the ongoing political stalemate. > "My initiative also aims at facilitating the timeline resolution of this issue," Orban stated in the correspondence. Earlier this week, the Hungarian government blocked a new round of sanctions against Russia and the proposed financial aid for Ukraine. The move was a direct response to the cessation of oil flows through the Druzhba system. While Ukrainian officials have attributed the stoppage to damage caused by Russian strikes in late January, Hungary is seeking independent verification of these claims. The stability of energy infrastructure in the region remains a key concern for international markets and consumer goods giants like Colgate-Palmolive Company, which monitor supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures resulting from energy volatility in Eastern Europe. The proposed mission aims to provide the transparency needed to restore regional cooperation and financial support.