Ukraine is reportedly planning to restart oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline on 22 April after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced the completion of repairs.
The initial shipment from the pipeline would be allocated equally between Hungary and Slovakia, Reuters reported, citing an undisclosed industry source who did not specify shipment volumes.
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Hungarian company MOL has submitted the first request for oil transit, the source added.
A prolonged halt in oil shipments through the pipeline was triggered by a Russian strike on a Ukrainian pumping station in January 2026. This provoked strong criticism from EU members Hungary and Slovakia, which still depend on Russian oil supplied through the Druzhba pipeline.
President Zelenskiy confirmed the repairs were complete and used the occasion to press the EU to release a €90bn ($105.8bn) loan that had been stalled amid a dispute over the pipeline.
Zelenskiy, in a video address, said: “The European Union asked Ukraine to repair the Druzhba oil pipeline, which the Russians had damaged. We have repaired it.
“We hope that the European Union will also implement the agreements.”
After a meeting of EU ministers in Luxembourg, Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said she expects a positive decision on Ukraine’s loan within 24 hours.
Ukraine’s need for funding remains acute, with the country requiring $52bn in external support this year alone.
European Economic Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said Ukraine’s financial needs through 2026 are covered and anticipated the first disbursement of the EU loan either at the end of May or early June.
Russia has announced that it is technically ready to recommence pumping oil through Druzhba.
However, according to industry sources cited by Reuters, Russia intends to stop shipments of Kazakh oil to Germany through a separate branch of the Druzhba pipeline, starting next month.
The shutdown of Druzhba featured in Hungary’s recent election campaign. Outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused Ukraine of seeking to interfere in the vote by suspending oil transit.
Earlier this week, the newly elected Hungarian Prime Minister, Peter Magyar, called for both Ukraine and Russia to ensure prompt resumption of oil flows to Hungary.
Last year, Druzhba transit volumes fell to a decade low of 9.7 million tonnes, with Slovakia and Hungary collectively accounting for the majority, according to data from consultancy ExPro.
The Druzhba pipeline extends more than 5,500km and links Russian oilfields to key European markets, supplying between 1.2 and 1.4 million barrels per day (mbbl/d), with the potential for expansion to 2mbbl/d.
