Brussels, Belgium. Hungary and Slovakia expect Russian oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline via Ukraine to resume after a halt lasting months, a development that could affect talks on a 90 billion euro EU loan sought by Kyiv.
Pipeline halt and political dispute
The Druzhba pipeline has become one of the most politically charged pieces of infrastructure in Europe since a Russian drone strike damaged the pipeline in western Ukraine and stopped Russian oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia. Outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the Slovak government accused Ukraine of delaying repairs, which Kyiv denied.
Slovakia expects flows to restart
Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Sakova said on Wednesday that crude oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline from Ukraine to Slovakia were expected to resume early on Thursday. She said on Facebook that Ukraine had told Slovakia work had begun in Belarus to build up pressure in the pipeline, as required to allow oil to flow again after being halted since late January.
MOL says Ukraine notified it of resumption
Hungarian oil group MOL said Ukraine informed it that deliveries of Russian crude would resume through the Druzhba pipeline. “According to the notification, JSC Ukrtransnafta is ready to resume crude oil transit to Hungary and Slovakia,” MOL said in a statement.
EU loan discussions linked to oil flows
An industry source told Reuters on Tuesday that Ukraine would resume pumping oil through the Druzhba pipeline on Wednesday, after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said repairs were complete and urged the EU to allow the 90 billion euro loan. The timing of the loan’s release depends largely on Hungary and Slovakia and whether they want oil flows to arrive first in their countries. With the prospect of oil flowing again, ambassadors of EU countries in Brussels will resume discussions on final approval for the loan that Budapest opposed pending the resumption of oil exports.
Will the resumption of oil flows influence your view of the EU’s decision on the 90 billion euro loan for Kyiv?
