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Zelensky alleges European pressure to reopen Druzhba pipeline
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused European allies of attempting to blackmail Kyiv into restoring the flow of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia. Speaking to reporters in Kyiv on Sunday, Zelensky argued that reopening the pipeline would undermine EU sanctions against Moscow.
Pipeline damage and diplomatic tensions
Ukraine claims the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, a critical route for Russian oil to Central Europe, was severely damaged by Russian airstrikes in January. Repairs have yet to be completed. Hungary, which relies heavily on Russian energy, has blocked both a new round of EU sanctions against Moscow and a €90 billion ($103 billion; £78 billion) financial aid package for Ukraine until the pipeline is operational again.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose party trails in opinion polls ahead of April elections, has made opposition to Ukraine a central campaign issue. Some EU officials fear Zelensky's resistance to repairing the pipeline could inadvertently bolster Orbán's re-election chances.
Zelensky's stance: No Russian oil transit amid sanctions
Zelensky framed the dispute as a matter of principle, questioning why Ukraine should facilitate Russian oil transit while the EU maintains sanctions on Moscow elsewhere. "We either sell Russian oil or we don't," he said. "Why can we in one case tell the United States that we oppose lifting sanctions, while on the other hand forcing Ukraine to resume oil transit through Druzhba-and at a political price that effectively pays for anti-European policies?"
The Ukrainian leader dismissed accusations of obstruction, stating, "I am not blocking it. I am saying openly: I am against it." He added that if Ukraine were pressured to comply in exchange for withheld weapons, it would amount to blackmail. Zelensky also insisted the €90 billion EU loan, approved by all 27 member states, must be disbursed without further conditions.
Broader geopolitical fallout
Zelensky's remarks come amid shifting global energy dynamics. The U.S. recently relaxed sanctions on Russian oil purchases to ease supply disruptions linked to the Israel-Iran conflict, a move criticized by several European leaders. Zelensky condemned the 30-day waiver, arguing it "will only help Russia."
Russian officials, including Kremlin economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev, have seized on the sanctions relief as proof of Russia's indispensability to global energy markets, calling further loosening "inevitable."
Ukraine's drone expertise as a strategic asset
Amid concerns over waning Western focus on Ukraine due to the Middle East crisis, Zelensky highlighted his country's drone capabilities as a potential bargaining chip. He described Ukraine's interceptor drones as "Ukrainian oil" and revealed ongoing negotiations with the U.S. for a $50 billion joint production deal.
"The production of modern drones and Ukraine's relevant expertise is our today's Ukrainian oil," Zelensky said. He emphasized that any agreement would require financial and technological concessions from Washington, noting that a similar proposal made last year had stalled.
Since the escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict, Ukraine has fielded requests from multiple countries-particularly in the Gulf-for assistance in countering Iranian-designed drones. Ukraine is recognized as a global leader in both producing cost-effective interceptor drones and deploying them effectively against Russian attacks.
Fears of reduced U.S. support
Zelensky warned that the Middle East crisis could divert American attention and resources away from Ukraine. "We do not want to lose the Americans; we speak about this openly," he said. "There may be delays in delivering certain weapons or reductions in the volume of critical defensive supplies for us."
He also reiterated Ukraine's opposition to any easing of sanctions on Russia, stating, "We absolutely do not support [the Iranian regime]-and that is putting it mildly." The U.S. sanctions waiver, set to expire on April 11, was confirmed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
