Vaidere MEP urges no pressure on Ukraine to reopen Druzhba pipeline

In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Inese Vaidere MEP calls for no pressure to be put on Ukraine to repair or reopen the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia.

Inese Vaidere MEP and co-rapporteur Ville Niinistö have jointly sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, expressing concern that no direct or indirect pressure should be exerted on Ukraine to repair or reopen the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia.

"It is morally and ethically unacceptable to expect a country that is a victim of Russia's brutal war of aggression to repair or reopen transit route that helps finance the aggressor's war machine. Every barrel of Russian oil sold generates revenue that sustains the Kremlin's capacity to wage war against Ukraine and to threaten the security of Europe as a whole," Inese Vaidere quotes the letter.

As the rapporteur for the law on phasing out Russian gas, Inese Vaidere emphasizes that the Parliament have overwhelmingly supported the joint commitment to end Russian energy imports as soon as possible. The main objective of the RePowerEU program is to end Europe's strategic dependence on Russian fossil fuels.

"We cannot send mixed signals, nor can we ask Ukraine to bear the additional burden caused by the unwillingness of some EU Member States to diversify their energy supplies," emphasizes Vaidere. She points out that Hungary and Slovakia have an alternative source of oil supplies – they can receive oil that does not come from Russia via the Adria pipeline from Croatia.

Inese Vaidere also restates that Europe must strongly support Ukraine and remain consistent in its energy security and sanctions policy. The European Commission must therefore ensure that the EU's actions are fully in line with the objectives of RePowerEU, the commitment to end Russian energy imports and unwavering support for Ukraine.