Source: A group of EU experts is still waiting for access to Druzhba pipeline

A group of European Union experts is still waiting in Kyiv for permission from Ukraine to visit the site of damage to the Druzhba oil pipeline in order to assess it.

An EU official familiar with the matter,source told European Pravda on condition of anonymity that EU experts remain in Kyiv awaiting approval from the Ukrainian authorities for an inspection visit to the damaged section of the Druzhba pipeline to assess the scale and cost of repairs.

Ukraine has not yet granted such permission, the official noted.

The European Union welcomed Ukraine's commitment to repair the Druzhba pipeline, damaged by a Russian missile, within six weeks.

This followed an EU proposal to provide financial resources and expert support to restore oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, on the sidelines of the European Council in Brussels, stated that Hungary would not unblock any decision favourable to Ukraine until the Druzhba pipeline resumes transporting Russian oil.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that Ukraine would be forced to resume the supply of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline as it would "run out of money".