The European Commission (EC) welcomes the readiness of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to recognize the results of a mission to verify the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline, a commission spokesman said during a press conference, BTA reports.
“This is a positive step, now it is time to take the remaining necessary actions”, he added, without specifying whether the EC would participate directly in the mission. He said the commission was in contact with Ukraine on the matter.
The spokesman noted that the pipeline had been cut off since January 27 after a Russian air strike on the Ukrainian part of the route and condemned "these Russian attacks on European energy security."
He recalled that during her visit to Kiev, EC President Ursula von der Leyen had called on Ukraine to restore the pipeline as soon as possible. Work is continuing to ensure supplies to Hungary and Slovakia, which were temporarily cut off due to the incident.
The suspension of supplies was cited by Hungary as a reason not to support a new extension of EU sanctions against Russia and as a warning signal that the country could block the granting of a €90 billion loan to Kiev.