Zelensky: Druzhba Pipeline to Resume by End of April

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Druzhba oil pipeline, damaged in a Russian missile strike, could resume basic operations by the end of April, according to Ukrainska Pravda.

Speaking at a press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, he acknowledged that repairs would not be fully completed by then, but the pipeline should at least operate in a limited mode.

Zelensky warned that some storage facilities would remain damaged, as their repair would take longer. The European Union has supported the Druzhba rehabilitation plan and pledged both financial and technical assistance. Restoring the pipeline is particularly important for oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia.

Budapest has long conditioned its support for Ukraine on the resumption of Russian oil flows through Druzhba. However, the winner of Hungary’s parliamentary elections, Peter Magyar, has indicated he may relax the veto Hungary has used to block €90bn for Ukraine.

(pir)