Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused some European Union allies of attempting to “blackmail” Ukraine into reopening a key pipeline that transports Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia.
The dispute centers around the Soviet-era Druzhba oil pipeline, which carries Russian crude oil through Ukraine into parts of Europe. According to Ukrainian officials, the pipeline was damaged by Russian air strikes in January and has not yet been repaired.
Zelensky argues that restoring the pipeline’s operation would effectively weaken sanctions imposed on Russia following the ongoing war. He questioned how the European Union could sanction Russian oil while simultaneously pushing Ukraine to allow its transit through Ukrainian territory.
Hungary, which relies heavily on Russian energy supplies, has been blocking new sanctions against Moscow as well as a crucial €90bn financial aid package for Ukraine. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has made criticism of Ukraine a major issue ahead of the country’s upcoming elections, with his party currently trailing in opinion polls.
The European Union has urged Kyiv to quickly repair the pipeline and allow inspectors to assess the damage. Some EU officials worry that Zelensky’s refusal could influence Hungary’s domestic politics and potentially strengthen Orban’s campaign.
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Zelensky insisted that allowing Russian oil to pass through Ukraine while sanctions remain in place is contradictory.
“We either sell Russian oil or we don’t,” Zelensky said, arguing that forcing Ukraine to restore the pipeline undermines the sanctions strategy against Moscow.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian leader also discussed Ukraine’s growing drone technology industry. He described the country’s interceptor drone production as “Ukraine’s oil,” highlighting its value both economically and strategically.
Zelensky revealed that Ukraine is open to a potential $50bn joint drone production agreement with the United States, noting that Washington has recently expressed interest in such cooperation.
The Ukrainian president also warned that the widening conflict in the Middle East could impact Ukraine’s war effort. He said the United States appears increasingly focused on the region, raising concerns about possible delays or reductions in military supplies to Kyiv.
Despite these challenges, Zelensky reiterated his opposition to easing sanctions on Russia, arguing that doing so would only strengthen Moscow’s position in the global energy market.
