Zelensky says repairs completed on oil pipeline to Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 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 that Moscow’s forces 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.

Zelensky’s announcement comes against the backdrop of broader Ukrainian efforts to dent Russia’s energy revenues that fund its invasion launched more than four years ago.

– Zelensky urges more Russia sanctions –

Kyiv in the meantime has stepped up its aerial attacks on Russian energy sites in recent months with the aim of bleeding Russian exports — an effort Kyiv refers to as its own “long-range sanctions.”

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.

The bloc’s 27 members need to unanimously approve an amendment to its budget to get the loan going. The Wednesday meeting would ascertain consensus before a written procedure is launched for final adoption.

EU chief Antonio Costa welcomed Zelensky’s announcement.

“Thank you President (Zelensky) for delivering, as agreed: repairing the Druzhba pipeline and restoring its operation,” he said on social media.

Despite announcing the reopening of the pipeline, Zelensky called on Ukraine’s allies to step up sanctions on Moscow and to source new energy resources.

Despite announcing the reopening of the pipeline, Zelensky called on Ukraine’s allies to step up sanctions on Moscow and to source new energy resources.

“We must continue systematic sanctions pressure on Russia over this war and work on further diversifying energy supplies to Europe,” Zelensky said in the statement.

“Europe must be independent from those who seek to destroy or weaken it,” he added.