Ukraine Set to Resume Oil Flow Amid EU Loan Dispute

Ukraine will resume pumping oil through the Druzhba pipeline on Wednesday, according to industry sources. This follows President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's confirmation that repairs are now complete, and his call for the European Union to unlock a 90-billion-euro loan previously halted due to disagreements over the pipeline.

The suspension of oil flows resulted from a Russian attack on a Ukrainian pumping facility in January, drawing backlash from EU members Hungary and Slovakia, which are still reliant on Russian oil via Druzhba. Tensions escalated further when Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban vetoed the loan, although it was approved by the European Council, causing dissatisfaction among EU nations.

Orban's electoral loss in April opened the door for easing the crisis. With the pipeline ready to restart, Zelenskiy emphasized that there should be no further grounds to block the loan, crucial for Ukraine's financial support amid its ongoing conflict with Russia.