The Druzhba pipeline, which usually carries Russian oil to Europe, is ready to resume operations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today, as quoted by Reuters. He signaled that Kiev now expects to receive 90 billion euros in loans from the European Union, BTA reports.
“Ukraine has completed repair work on the section of the Druzhba pipeline that was damaged by a Russian strike. The pipeline can resume operations,“ Zelensky said in an article in “Ex“ (X).
The halt in supplies has sparked outrage from authorities in Hungary and Slovakia, which continue to rely on Russian oil imports.
The Hungarian and Slovak governments - both of which maintain political and energy ties with Moscow despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine - have accused Ukrainian authorities of delaying the repair and resumption of oil supplies.
Due to the suspension of supplies to the “Druzhba“, the government of Viktor Orbán, which recently lost the parliamentary elections, has threatened to stop energy aid to Ukraine, and Prime Minister Orbán has blocked a €90 billion aid package for Kiev approved by the European Commission.
In his post, Zelensky indicated that Ukraine, whose military budget depends largely on foreign funding, expects the funds to be released after the repair of the “Druzhba“, as agreed.
“We link this to the unblocking of the European package in support of Ukraine, which has already been approved by the European Council,“ he said he.
The Kremlin said earlier today that Russia is technically ready to resume oil supplies through the pipeline.