Kyiv – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sharply criticized what he describes as pressure from European leaders to restart the flow of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline, framing the requests as a form of “shantange” – or blackmail – and equating the move to effectively lifting sanctions against Moscow. The dispute centers on the pipeline’s role in supplying oil to Hungary and Slovakia, both of which currently have exemptions from the European Union’s broader sanctions regime targeting Russian energy imports.
Zelenskyy’s comments, made public on Sunday, underscore the growing tension between Ukraine and some of its European allies over the continued reliance on Russian fossil fuels, even as Ukraine battles a full-scale invasion by Russia. The Ukrainian leader argued that allowing Russian oil to flow through the Druzhba pipeline undermines the international effort to isolate Russia economically and fund its war machine. The core of the issue, according to Zelenskyy, isn’t the technical challenge of repairing the damaged pipeline – which Ukraine says was hit by a Russian air strike in January – but a fundamental question of principle: “Are we together decided to restore Russian oil exports?”
The Druzhba pipeline, meaning “friendship” in Russian, is a major artery for Russian oil deliveries to Europe. Its operation was disrupted in January after Ukraine reported damage caused by Russian attacks. According to reports from Latvian Radio, Zelenskyy initially estimated repairs could take four to six weeks, but the political dimension has now taken precedence. Hungary and Slovakia have expressed concern over the disruption, as they heavily rely on the pipeline for their energy needs.
The controversy flared up after French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly raised the issue of repair timelines with Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy responded, as reported by Delfi.lv, that the repair itself was secondary to the broader question of whether to resume Russian oil exports. “I told him that it is difficult for me, because leaders want to skip this step. That is not right. The question is bigger – whether we are selling Russian oil or not. Because there is pressure on me to restore ‘Družba’,” Zelenskyy stated. He further questioned the logic of opposing the lifting of sanctions on Russia even as simultaneously pressuring Ukraine to reopen the pipeline.
Zelenskyy also revealed that he has been facing pressure with conditions attached: namely, that Ukraine would receive fewer weapons if it refused to restore the oil flow. “If they position conditions on me that Ukraine will not receive weapons, then, sorry, I am powerless in this matter,” he said, describing the situation as “shantange” towards his European counterparts. He emphasized that he is openly opposed to resuming Russian oil exports, stating, “I am against it.”
The situation is further complicated by reports that former U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized European countries for continuing to purchase Russian oil, as reported by DB.lv. Zelenskyy indicated that Trump raised this issue during a recent video conference with European leaders and the Ukrainian president. This adds another layer to the diplomatic maneuvering surrounding the issue.
The dispute over Druzhba also comes amid escalating tensions between Ukraine and Hungary, with Budapest accusing Kyiv of deliberately halting oil flows through the pipeline. Ukraine maintains that the pipeline was damaged by a Russian attack. As LSM.lv reported, Zelenskyy has directly compared restarting the pipeline to lifting sanctions on Russia, a position that underscores his firm stance against any measures that could benefit Moscow.
Looking ahead, the resolution of this dispute will likely depend on a broader agreement among European nations regarding their energy security strategy and their commitment to sanctions against Russia. The upcoming parliamentary elections in Hungary on April 12th, and the increasingly assertive rhetoric of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, add another layer of uncertainty to the situation. The debate over Druzhba highlights the complex geopolitical challenges facing Ukraine and its allies as the conflict with Russia continues, and the delicate balance between energy needs and political principles.
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