Resumption of Oil Flow Through Druzhba Pipeline: Europe's Energy Politics Unveiled

After a prolonged halt, Russian oil began passing through Ukraine's Druzhba pipeline on Wednesday, allowing Hungary to remove its veto on a crucial 90 billion euro EU loan needed by Kyiv. The pipeline, now a focal point of Europe's energy politics, gained attention after a Russian drone strike in western Ukraine halted deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia.

Hungary’s oil giant, MOL, confirmed the resumption of oil deliveries, expecting the first shipments to arrive by Thursday. Shortly after pumping resumed, EU ambassadors in Brussels approved the loan, pending formal sign-off by Thursday. The EU had initially agreed to the loan to sustain Ukraine’s liquidity until 2027, facing blockades from Hungary and Slovakia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised the EU's loan decision, urging continued support for Ukraine to pressure Russia. This development comes as Hungarian politics shift, with Peter Magyar’s parliamentary victory, signaling potential changes in EU relations. Meanwhile, Germany confirmed the halt of Kazakh oil through Druzhba, underscoring ongoing geopolitical tensions.