Hungarian PM Viktor Orban asked the EU on Wednesday for a fact-finding mission to assess damage to the 'Druzhba' oil pipeline in Ukraine. A letter seen by revealed that this might help unlock new EU funding for Ukraine.

In a letter to the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, Orban stated that "Hungary supports the idea of a fact finding mission with the participation of experts delegates by Hungary and Slovakia in order to verify the current status of the Druzhba Pipeline."

Orban acknowledged the political difficulties caused due to the delay in a large EU loan?to Ukraine. The letter stated that "my initiative also aims to facilitate the timeline resolution of this issue."

Hungary blocked this week a 'new round of sanctions against Russia, and a loan to Ukraine in response to the'stoppage of oil flowing through Druzhba. Ukraine claims that the pipeline has still not been repaired after damage caused by Russian strikes late in January. (Reporting and editing by Charlotte Van Campenhout, Charlotte Abnett)

(source: Reuters)