Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has asked the European Union to send a "fact-finding mission" to assess the damage to the "Druzhba" oil pipeline in Ukraine. This is clear from a letter to European Council President Antonio Costa, seen by "Reuters".
In the letter, Orban said that Budapest supports the idea of an expert mission with the participation of specialists delegated by Hungary and Slovakia to check the condition of the pipeline. According to him, the initiative could contribute to unblocking new EU funding for Ukraine and finding a quick solution to the dispute.
Earlier this week, Hungary blocked the adoption of a new package of sanctions against Russia, as well as the granting of a large loan to Kiev, in response to the suspension of supplies through the "Druzhba" oil pipeline. The Ukrainian side claims that the pipeline has not yet been restored after being damaged by Russian strikes in late January.
The suspension of Russian oil supplies through the "Druzhba" pipeline after the pipeline was damaged by Russian strikes in late January forced Slovakia and Hungary to declare a state of emergency in the oil sector and led to a sharp confrontation between Budapest and Bratislava with Ukraine.
On February 23, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico ordered the suspension of emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine and said that he might reconsider Slovakia's position on Kiev's accession to the EU. Hungary has threatened the same step.
Bratislava claims that Ukraine is not allowing Slovak specialists to visit the site where the "Družba" oil pipeline was hit to inspect the situation.
Earlier, Hungary and Slovakia also stopped the export of diesel fuel to Ukraine.
The Slovak opposition has criticized the pressure on Ukraine and intends to sue Fico over his decision on electricity supplies.