April 21, 2026, 6:33 p.mApril 21, 2026, 7:18 p.m
A pumping station of the Druzhba pipeline in Germany. (Archive image, 2007)Image: keystone
Shortly before discussions on a further loan for Ukraine, Kiev announced the repair of the “Druzhba” (Friendship) oil pipeline from Russia to the European Union. “The oil pipeline can resume operations,” wrote President Volodymyr Zelenskyj on Telegram. Kiev now expects the release of blocked EU funds totaling 90 billion euros as a support package.
According to his own statements, Zelenskyj called EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President António Costa and emphasized that Ukraine had met all demands and now urgently needed the money. “These funds will strengthen not only Ukraine, but all of Europe,” he said. The country wants to use most of the money to defend itself against the Russian war of aggression.
Costa thanked Zelenskyj on Platform X for repairing the line. In his message to the EU, Zelensky also said that no one could guarantee “that Russian attacks on the oil pipeline infrastructure will not be repeated.” Nevertheless, the experts have now created the conditions for the pipeline system and the facilities to be put back into operation.
Zelensky calls for new sanctions against Russia
At the end of January, a Russian drone in Brody, western Ukraine, damaged pipeline systems, according to Ukrainian sources. As a result, the transit of Russian oil via Ukraine to Slovakia and Hungary was disrupted. Ukraine’s two neighboring states questioned Kiev’s account of the damage to the oil pipeline and called for an independent inspection. Both countries stopped supplying diesel to Ukraine.
Budapest also blocked the payment of the first tranche of the EU loan totaling 90 billion euros promised in December. However, Hungary had announced that it would withdraw its veto if it received Russian oil again via the “Druzhba” pipeline that was damaged in Ukraine. The EU could make a decision on another support loan for Ukraine on Wednesday.
Zelensky had declared that Russian oil, which Moscow uses to finance its war of aggression against Ukraine, no longer has any place on the European market. He has now again called for sanctions to be tightened to increase pressure on the country and end the invasion, which is now in its fifth year. (sda/dpa)