Ukraine to Restart Russian Oil Pipeline to Hungary, Slovakia Within Hours After Repairs

Ukraine is set to resume the shipment of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia within hours on Wednesday, following the completion of repairs to the Druzhba pipeline. The pipeline was reportedly damaged by a Russian attack, a Kyiv official informed AFP.

The Druzhba pipeline has been central to a dispute involving Hungary and Slovakia, which continue to import Russian oil through this route, and Ukraine and the European Union. Kyiv anticipates that the resumption of these supplies will remove the final obstacle to securing tens of billions of euros in support from Brussels, which had been delayed by Hungary’s outgoing nationalist leader, Viktor Orban.

Following Ukraine's confirmation of the pipeline's repair, Hungary’s energy company MOL requested the shipment of approximately 100,000 tonnes of oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Transit was initially scheduled to restart around 1100 GMT, but the Ukrainian official, speaking anonymously, indicated an earlier resumption. Orban had previously withheld a crucial €90 million ($105 million) loan for Ukraine, using it as leverage to pressure Kyiv into resuming deliveries and accusing Ukraine of delaying repairs. His recent electoral defeat is expected to facilitate the release of these funds.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has openly expressed his opposition to certain EU members continuing to purchase Russian oil and gas, which serves as a significant revenue source for Moscow to finance its invasion, launched over four years ago. Speaking to reporters in Luxembourg on Tuesday, after Kyiv announced the completion of repairs, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed optimism about reaching an agreement on the loan. «We expect an agreement in 24 hours. So I don’t want to jinx it. I hope that everything goes well… Hopefully all the obstacles are removed,» Kallas stated.