Zelenskyy: Druzhba Pipeline Ready for Russian Oil; Links to €90 Billion EU Aid
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced the Druzhba pipeline is ready to ship Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, linking this to the unblocking of a €90 billion EU aid package. This comes amid reports of a Ukrainian drone attack on the pipeline in Russia. EU officials expect the loan to be approved soon, despite unconfirmed oil flow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday that the Druzhba pipeline is ready to resume shipping Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia via Ukraine. This follows repairs after the pipeline was reportedly damaged by Russian bombs in late January. Zelenskyy stated that while no one can guarantee Russia won't attack again, basic conditions for operation have been restored.
Zelenskyy explicitly linked the pipeline's readiness to the unblocking of a €90 billion European support package for Ukraine, which Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had frozen. European Council President António Costa thanked Zelenskyy for «delivering, as agreed». The announcement coincided with reports of Ukrainian security services launching a drone attack on a Druzhba pumping station in Russia's Samara region, damaging five oil tanks. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas indicated that Orbán's recent election defeat provides «new momentum» for the loan's approval, expected within 24 hours. However, Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár and a Hungarian government spokesperson could not confirm oil deliveries had restarted.