Brussels, March 17 (QNA) - European Union (EU) officials announced Tuesday that Ukraine has accepted European technical and financial assistance to repair the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa said in a joint statement that "European experts are ready to immediately assist Kyiv with the repairs," stressing that ensuring energy security for all European citizens is a priority.

They also indicated that they will continue working with relevant parties to find alternative routes for transporting non-Russian crude oil to Central and Eastern European countries.

The Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian oil through Ukraine to Central Europe, was damaged in January in an attack that Kyiv blamed on Moscow.

The disruption of fuel supplies has escalated tensions between Budapest and Kyiv. (QNA)