French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Ukraine has agreed to receive a European Union mission to help repair the Druzhba oil pipeline, in a move to resolve the energy crisis with Hungary and Slovakia.
"I thank President (Vladimir) Zelensky because, under these circumstances, he agreed to receive a mission from the European Union in Ukraine to provide technical assistance and funding for the repair of the 'Druzhba' oil pipeline," Macron said at a press conference following a meeting of the European Council.
He added, warning: "If energy security issues in the European Union are to be taken into account, they should not overshadow our support and should not be used as a tool."
It is worth noting that Ukraine halted the flow of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline across its territory to Slovakia and Hungary on January 27, citing damage to the pipeline.
Hungary responded with countermeasures, halting diesel supplies to Ukraine, then blocking a €90 billion loan from the European Union to Kyiv, as well as the 20th package of sanctions, until Russian oil pumping resumed.
Budapest considered this measure to be a response to the "blackmail of the Kyiv regime," which is not resuming the transit of Russian oil through Druzhba for political reasons.
Macron's announcement comes at a sensitive time, amid escalating tensions between Hungary and Ukraine, and the ongoing crisis in the region.
