Zelensky Weighs Druzhba Pipeline Repair Amidst EU Pressure and Hungarian Opposition
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is considering whether to repair the Druzhba pipeline, a crucial artery for Russian oil deliveries to Europe, despite objections and pressure from European Union member states Hungary and Slovakia. The debate comes as Ukraine faces ongoing challenges securing international aid, with Hungary blocking a significant EU financial package.
Zelensky’s Concerns and Russia’s Tactics
Zelensky expressed skepticism about the necessity of repairing the pipeline, questioning the cost in human lives. “So why repair it? To lose people. I think that’s a incredibly high price,” he stated at a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa in Kyiv on February 24, 2026 . He alleges that Russian military forces are deliberately targeting repair crews, making the perform dangerous and costly.
Zelensky advised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is blocking aid to Ukraine due to the pipeline disruptions, to directly address the issue with Moscow. “Russia has destroyed these pipelines several times,” Zelensky said, suggesting Orbán request a “ceasefire in the energy sector” from the Kremlin . He further argued that Russian oil, which finances Russia’s war effort, has no place in the European market.
Orbán’s Stance and EU Aid Blockage
Orbán has maintained his opposition to EU financial aid for Ukraine, asserting that there are no technical impediments to resuming oil flow through the Druzhba pipeline and that the issue is purely political. In a letter to Costa, Orbán described the situation as “absurd,” criticizing the EU for approving financial aid to Ukraine even as simultaneously allowing a situation that creates an energy crisis in Hungary .
Orbán stated, “You certainly see the absurdity of the situation: We [the EU] take a decision financially favourable to Ukraine that I personally disapprove, then Ukraine creates an energy emergency in Hungary, and you ask me to pretend that nothing happened. This is not possible” . He has linked the resumption of oil transit via Druzhba to the release of the €90 billion EU aid package.
EU’s Position and Alternative Routes
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa have urged Ukraine to expedite repairs to the Druzhba pipeline. Von der Leyen similarly acknowledged efforts led by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic to secure and expand oil transportation via Serbia to Hungary and Slovakia through the Adriatic pipeline .
Oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline was interrupted following a drone attack on energy facilities in Brody, Ukraine, at the complete of January 2026. This disruption prompted Hungary to block both the €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine and diesel supplies.
Previous Attacks and Zelensky’s Reaction
Reports from August 2025 indicate that Zelensky appeared to chuckle when questioned about attacks on the Druzhba pipeline during a press conference . During a press conference on August 24, 2025, Zelensky suggested that Hungary’s position on Ukraine’s EU accession could influence the future of the pipeline .