Ukraine Reopens Druzhba Pipeline to Restore Oil Supplies to Hungary After Months of Stalemate

Ukraine has announced that it has completed repairs to the Druzhba oil pipeline, enabling the resumption of Russian oil flows to Hungary and Slovakia, and stating that this development removes any remaining grounds for blocking a €90 billion European Union loan package intended to support Kyiv’s military and economic needs.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the declaration on Tuesday, April 22, 2026, following a period of damage to the pipeline infrastructure from Russian attacks. The Druzhba pipeline, which transports crude oil from Russia to Central Europe through Ukrainian territory, had been a point of contention in broader negotiations over the EU financial assistance package.

The repair work concluded after months of stalled operations, during which Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had linked his approval of the EU loan to the resumption of oil transit via the pipeline. Orbán had previously maintained a veto on the financial package, arguing that the flow of Russian oil through Ukrainian territory needed to be restored before Budapest would lift its objections.

With the pipeline now operational again, Ukrainian officials say the condition set by Budapest has been met. Zelenskyy emphasized that there can now be “no grounds” for continuing to block the loan, which had been under discussion among EU member states as part of a broader effort to sustain Ukraine’s resistance and reconstruction efforts amid the ongoing conflict.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas addressed the matter during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Tuesday, expressing confidence that a positive decision on the loan would be reached within 24 hours. Her comments came shortly after Zelenskyy’s announcement and reflected a shift in the diplomatic momentum surrounding the financial package.

Industry sources cited by Reuters indicated that pumping operations through the Druzhba pipeline were expected to resume on Wednesday, April 23, 2026, marking the first full resumption of transit since the disruption. The pipeline’s reactivation is seen as a key step in resolving the impasse that had delayed the disbursement of funds critical to Ukraine’s wartime budget and long-term recovery planning.

Despite the progress, Zelenskyy cautioned that the security of the infrastructure remains uncertain. He reiterated his longstanding position that no guarantees can be made against future Russian attacks on energy assets, noting that Kyiv continues to advocate for diversification of European energy supplies away from reliance on Russian fossil fuels, even as temporary transit arrangements are restored.

The developments unfolded on the 1,519th day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, underscoring the prolonged nature of the conflict and the intertwined nature of energy politics, humanitarian support, and diplomatic negotiations involving Kyiv, Brussels, and Central European governments.