Zelenskiy Seals Deal to Resume Druzhba Pipeline; EU Loan on Brink of Approval

The Druzhba pipeline, a critical conduit for transporting Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, is ready to restart operations, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The revival of this pipeline comes after extensive repair work, which was demanded following a Russian attack in January, ignited tensions in Europe.

The suspension of the Druzhba pipeline had previously led to heated disputes between Ukraine and the European Union. Zelenskiy had accused the EU of exerting undue pressure to expedite repairs, while Hungary and Slovakia, who heavily rely on Russian oil, levied accusations against Kyiv of intentionally delaying the process.

With repairs completed, Zelenskiy hopes to expedite the approval of a 90 billion-euro loan from the EU, which had been blocked by Hungary's then-PM Viktor Orban. As Ukraine awaits oil flow resumption, Zelenskiy urges Europe to diversify energy sources, citing potential future Russian attacks.