Deutsche Welle reported on the 17th: "【The 'Friendship' pipeline is expected to be restored! Hungary and Slovakia will regain Russian crude oil】
EU Commission President von der Leyen and Council President Costa said on Tuesday (March 17) that the EU would assist in restarting the pipeline that transports Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia through Ukraine.
In a statement, they said, "The EU has provided technical support and funding to Ukraine. Ukraine has accepted this proposal." "European experts can provide immediate assistance."
Previously, Budapest accused Kyiv of deliberately delaying pipeline repairs, and the dispute between the two sides continued to escalate.
The landlocked countries Hungary and Slovakia have repeatedly accused Ukraine of hindering the restart of the so-called "Friendship" oil pipeline. Kyiv stated that the pipeline was damaged by a Russian missile attack in January and has been out of operation since then. Slovakia and Hungary criticized Ukraine as being responsible for the shutdown. Ukraine has consistently refused the EU's proposal to repair the pipeline, with Zelenskyy calling linking EU aid to Ukraine with the pipeline issue a "blackmail."
As an EU member state, Hungary blocked Brussels from providing Ukraine with a 90 billion euro loan and prevented further sanctions against Russia.
On Tuesday, von der Leyen and Costa wrote to President Zelenskyy, expressing hope that "the pipeline could be quickly repaired," thereby advancing the EU's loan package for Ukraine and the sanction plan against Russia.
The Middle East war has elevated oil supply to a global focal point, with countries seeking ways to ease oil prices. Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán urged the EU to suspend sanctions on Russian oil and gas to address the urgent situation.
Commentary: The restart of the Friendship pipeline seems to be an energy issue, but it is actually a forced compromise between the EU's practical interests and political positions. Ukraine is using the pipeline as leverage to pressure Hungary, while Hungary is retaliating against EU aid to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia by using its veto power. In the end, the EU is providing money and technology to mediate, essentially to quell internal divisions, stabilize energy supply in Central and Eastern Europe, and cope with the rising oil prices caused by the Middle East situation. This scene fully illustrates that when it comes to energy security, ideology yields to survival necessities, and the EU's firm stance on energy sanctions against Russia is gradually being softened by reality. Geopolitical games ultimately return to national interests and the bottom line of people's livelihoods.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1859949539814603/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.