Kyiv hopeful restoration of pipeline will unblock EU mortgage, with bloc’s international coverage chief Kaja Kallas anticipating ‘optimistic choice’.
Printed On 21 Apr 2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has mentioned a pipeline carrying Russian oil to Europe is able to resume operations after being broken throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy mentioned on Tuesday he anticipated the finished “restore work” on the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline working via his nation would result in the discharge of a much-needed 90-million-euro ($106m) European Union mortgage hitherto blocked by Hungary, which will depend on the Russian oil.
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Ukraine says the pipeline was broken late in January by Russian assaults, however Hungary and Slovakia, which additionally stay depending on Russian oil for the reason that begin of the warfare greater than 4 years in the past, have accused Kyiv of dragging its toes over the repairs.
“The pipeline can resume operation,” mentioned Zelenskyy. “We join this with the unblocking of the European help bundle for Ukraine, which had already been authorized by the European Council.”
Hopes have been raised that Hungary will now elevate its veto on the mortgage, each on account of the pipeline’s opening, but in addition as a result of Kremlin-friendly Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is on his approach out after dropping latest elections.
Afterward Tuesday, EU international coverage chief Kaja Kallas mentioned she anticipated a “optimistic choice” on the mortgage within the subsequent 24 hours. EU ambassadors are anticipated to present the ultimate greenlight to launch the blocked mortgage for Ukraine after they meet on Wednesday.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU banned seaborne imports of Russian oil however stored land flows authorized.
Zelenskyy mentioned on X that he had mentioned the unblocking of the mortgage with European Council President Antonio Costa. “Ukraine has fulfilled what the European Union requested of us,” he mentioned, referring to each Hungary and Slovakia’s calls for that the pipeline be reopened.
For its half, the Kremlin mentioned on Tuesday Russia was technically able to resume oil flows via the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia if and when Ukraine ended what Moscow referred to as its “blackmail”.
Ukraine wants the EU funds to plug looming holes in its price range, however has managed to safe sufficient cash from different backers within the meantime, whereas Hungary has stalled the mortgage.
In parallel, Ukrainian drones struck an oil-pumping and dispatch facility in Russia’s Samara area in a single day, an official from Ukraine’s SBU safety service mentioned on Tuesday.
The ability, a part of the Druzhba oil pipeline provide chain, is situated within the village of Prosvet within the Samara area.
