Overview
- Zelensky told reporters Friday that Ukraine will finish fixing the Druzhba oil pipeline this spring and said European countries must decide on resuming deliveries.
- Transit has been stopped since January 27 after what Ukraine described as a Russian drone strike on the line that feeds Hungary and Slovakia.
- Zelensky warned that destroyed storage tanks cannot be rebuilt quickly, so Ukraine will focus on restoring transit even as the risk of new strikes persists.
- Hungary has blocked a €90 billion EU package for Ukraine and the bloc’s 20th Russia sanctions round as it pushes for oil flows to restart through Druzhba.
- Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico said Friday he will press the European Commission to get the line running and argued the pipe is usable as the Slovnaft refinery pays more for oil via Croatia’s Adria route.