Following the Russian strikes late January on the Druzhba pipeline, leading to the interruption of oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia, the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council have engaged in intense discussions with our Member States and Ukraine at all levels to repair and restore the pipeline and resume the flow of oil to Hungary and Slovakia.
The EU has offered technical support and funding. The Ukrainians have welcomed and accepted this offer. European experts are available immediately.
Our priority is to ensure energy security for all European citizens. In this sense, the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council will continue to work with the concerned parties on alternative routes for the transit of non-Russian crude oil to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
This is also a necessary step in order to resume discussions on much-needed financial support for Ukraine and the 20th sanctions package ahead of the European Council.
