Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskysaid Tuesday that the damaged Druzhba pipeline carrying Russian oil to Europe had been repaired and was ready to resume operations.
The pipeline has been at the centre of a standoff between Hungary, which still imports Russian oil via the pipeline, Ukraine, and the European Union.
Hungary’s outgoing nationalist leader Viktor Orban had held up a much needed 90-million-euro loan for Ukraine as leverage to pressure Kyiv to resume deliveries.
“Ukraine has completed repair work on the section of the Druzhba oil pipeline that was damaged by a Russian strike,” Zelensky wrote in a statement published on social media.
“The pipeline can resume operation,” he added.
Ukraine says the Druzhba pipeline that crosses its territory to deliver Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary was damaged late January by Russian strikes.
Zelensky warned on Tuesday thatMoscow’sforces could attack the infrastructure again.
Hungary and Slovakia — among the most Kremlin-sympathetic EU member states — had accused Kyiv of dragging its feet over the repairs.
Kyiv needs the EU funds to plug looming holes in its budget, but has managed to secure enough money from other backers in the meantime while Budapest has stalled the loan.
EU countries are seeking to give the final greenlight to release the blocked loan for Ukraine on Wednesday, an official said, raising hopes Hungary would lift its veto.
Source: Insider Paper
