Hungary demands EU-led probe into Ukraine’s Druzhba pipeline damage, linking it to delayed aid and sanctions.

Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, has called on the European Union to send a fact-finding team to evaluate the damage to Ukraine's Druzhba oil pipeline, suggesting that Hungary and Slovakia take the lead. The veto of a €90 billion loan by Hungary has caused delays in approving new EU funding for Ukraine, which he attributed to the need for accurate information. The pipeline, which was interrupted by Russian strikes in late January, continues to be a major topic of discussion in EU discussions about aid, sanctions, and energy security. Although the mission has not yet been approved by the EU, Orban's plan attempts to overcome logistical and political obstacles.