Ukraine Admits Political Motives for Halting Druzhba Pipeline Transit

Regional Ukrainian and Central European outlets stress that Kyiv links the Druzhba stoppage to safety and repair needs on a wartime pipeline, not to political bargaining. They report that Ukraine has denied Szijjártó’s claim about demands for money and weapons, while also noting that Orbán and Fico are using the issue to press Zelensky for inspections and talks. This view expects further negotiations involving the European Commission, with Kyiv trying to keep control over decisions on Russian oil transit while managing ties with Hungary and Slovakia.

• •Ukrainian officials say the Druzhba halt is connected to technical and safety concerns on the pipeline.
• •Kyiv publicly denies that it asked Hungary for money and weapons in exchange for repairing Druzhba.
• •Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico have jointly asked Volodymyr Zelensky to allow an investigative commission to inspect the Druzhba pipeline.
• •Regional outlets report that the European Commission is engaging Kyiv about a mission to assess the Druzhba pipeline’s condition.
• •Ukrainian sources present Fico’s and Szijjártó’s statements as part of political pressure on Kyiv over Russian oil transit.