EU Chief to Talk With Zelensky Over Hungary Pipeline Row

March 4 ------ EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will discuss “energy security” with Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky, Brussels said, as Hungary is locked in a row with Kyiv over a blocked oil pipeline.

Hungary and Slovakia have accused Ukraine of deliberately dragging its feet on reopening the Druzhba pipeline, which Kyiv says was damaged by Russian strikes in January.

Orban, one of the few leaders in the European Union who is close to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, has blocked a 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) EU loan to Ukraine as well as a fresh round of sanctions on Russia until Kyiv re-opens the pipeline.

EU spokeswoman Paula Pinho said the phone call with Zelensky would focus on “energy security” and likely address the pipeline dispute. Brussels said it was working closely with Hungary and Slovakia over the matter. “Our priority remains the security of supply of our member states,” the European Commission said.

Source: kyivpost.com