Ukraine accepts EU mediation to resolve Druzhba pipeline crisis

The European Union announced Tuesday that Ukraine has accepted its mediation along with technical and financial support to resolve the Druzhba pipeline crisis, after Russian strikes on January 27 halted crude oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement with European Council President Antonio Costa that the EU had engaged in "intense discussions with Member States and Ukraine at all levels to restore the flow of oil to Hungary and Slovakia" through the pipeline. Von der Leyen said the Russian strikes targeting the Druzhba pipeline led to the interruption of crude oil supplies heading to the two countries, prompting the EU to intensify its diplomatic and technical efforts to coordinate with the concerned parties and work toward restarting the pipeline as soon as possible. The EU had offered Ukraine technical support and funding to help repair and restart the pipeline, noting that Kyiv welcomed and accepted the offer and that European experts are "available immediately" to provide the necessary assistance. The EU reiterated that its priority is to ensure energy security for all European citizens, adding that it will continue to work with the concerned parties to find alternative routes for the transit of non-Russian crude oil to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.