Ukraine to Resume Druzhba Oil Pipeline Flows After Repairs, Easing EU Tensions

Ukraine is set to resume oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline on Wednesday, following the completion of repair works, in a move aimed at defusing a growing energy dispute with the European Union.

The announcement was confirmed by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who stated that maintenance operations on damaged pumping infrastructure had been finalized, paving the way for the restoration of crude supplies through one of Europe’s key energy arteries.

Oil transit through the pipeline had been halted since January after a Russian attack targeted a pumping station inside Ukraine, disrupting supplies to several Central European countries. The interruption triggered frustration in both Hungary and Slovakia, which rely heavily on Russian crude transported through the Druzhba network.

The crisis took on a broader political dimension as tensions escalated in the European Union. A proposed €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine was temporarily blocked amid disagreements over the pipeline disruption, highlighting the intersection of energy security and geopolitics.

Hungary, under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, had been a key opponent of the funding package despite prior approval from the European Council. However, following recent political developments in Budapest, the path toward resolving the dispute appears to have widened.

Industry sources indicated that oil pumping is expected to restart around midday Wednesday, with Hungary’s MOL Group reportedly submitting the first transport requests. Initial shipments are expected to be shared between Hungary and Slovakia, though volumes have not yet been disclosed.

Ukrainian officials stressed that the repair work was carried out as quickly as possible despite mounting external pressure, reaffirming Kyiv’s commitment to maintaining its role as a critical transit route for European energy supplies.

The resumption of flows is likely to ease immediate supply concerns across Central Europe and could help stabilize relations between Ukraine and its European partners, even as broader geopolitical tensions in the region remain unresolved.