BRUSSELS - Several European Union countries are putting pressure on Ukraine to grant inspectors access to the Druzhba oil pipeline, while Kyiv has responded with a clear rejection, according to Politico.

The Ukrainian government insists that it needs time to assess the extent of the damage to the pipeline, the publication reports.

Russian oil has not been flowing through the Druzhba pipeline since January 27th. The Hungarian government previously stated that the pipeline had been restored, while Kyiv claims it is blocked solely for political reasons.

TASS/gnews.cz-jav