European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has urged Ukraine to expedite repairs to the Druzhba pipeline, a key route for Russian oil deliveries to several European nations. The call comes amid ongoing concerns about energy security in Europe following repeated Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.
“Russian attacks have had a direct impact on Europe’s energy security. We strongly condemn these attacks,” von der Leyen said during a visit to Kyiv on February 24, 2026, marking the fourth anniversary of the start of the invasion.
Von der Leyen thanked Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković for his efforts to ensure and increase oil transport to Hungary, Slovakia and Serbia via the Adriatic pipeline. She then reiterated the need for swift repairs to the Druzhba pipeline, which has been offline since January 27 due to damage sustained in a Russian attack on a facility in the Lviv region of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed reservations about prioritizing repairs, citing the danger to Ukrainian workers from continued Russian attacks. “Why? Why repair it? So we lose people? I think that is a very high price,” Zelenskyy said at a joint press conference with EU officials.
Zelenskyy also directed criticism toward Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, suggesting he address his complaints about the pipeline disruption directly to Moscow. “Russia has destroyed these pipelines several times. It cannot be that Russia destroys and Ukraine repairs,” he stated. He further argued that Russian oil, used to finance the war, has no place in the European market.
Orbán and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico have accused Kyiv of political blackmail regarding the pipeline, allegations Ukraine has denied, asserting it is working to repair the damaged infrastructure. The disruption to the Druzhba pipeline underscores the challenges Europe faces in weaning itself off Russian energy supplies and highlights the geopolitical risks associated with relying on infrastructure within an active conflict zone.
