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"European Commission Chief Spokesperson Paula Pinho insisted on Thursday that Brussels has not changed its position on the Druzhba pipeline and the 90 billion euro loan despite a change of leadership in Hungary. "Previously, from this podium, you said that it's unacceptable to tie these two things because the loan was already agreed at the EU Council. So how will you deal with this now? It seems that the position of the Prime Minister-to-be is almost the same," Pinho was asked by a journalist. "Our position on the Ukrainian loan has not changed," Pinho said. "What changed is President Volodymyr Zelensky’s announcement two days ago that the Druzhba pipeline should be operational by the end of April. So that's good news, and we will take it from here." "It is in the interest of Hungary, and it is in the interest of the EU, that we make progress as soon as possible. Therefore, these are preliminary talks that are taking place in order to make sure that once the government is in place, action can be taken if appropriate, and that we do not waste any time," she added. The dispute over the pipeline has been a major point of tension between Budapest and Kiev in recent months. Outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, alongside Slovakia’s Robert Fico, accused Ukraine of deliberately delaying repairs to the pipeline for political leverage, a claim rejected by Kiev and the European Union, which said the damage was caused by 'Russian drone strikes' and that repairs in a conflict zone are complex and dangerous. Budapest previously used its veto power within the European Union to block the €90 billion aid package, arguing that Hungarian energy security had to be addressed first. The European Commission has consistently maintained that the loan and the pipeline are separate issues, noting that the financial package was agreed by EU leaders in December 2025. Prime minister-elect, Peter Magyar, who defeated Orban in the April 12 elections, has inherited the dispute while attempting to balance domestic energy concerns with relations in Brussels. Hungary remains heavily reliant on Russian crude delivered via the Druzhba pipeline, with its refinery infrastructure specifically configured for that supply. While Magyar has indicated he is likely to allow the loan to proceed, particularly as Hungary secured an opt-out from financial liability, he has also signalled that Budapest will continue to press for guarantees on energy flows because 'geography is geography'. Earlier this week, Zelensky said repairs to the pipeline are progressing and that operations should resume by the end of April, a development Brussels described as a positive step."
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