Ukraine Completes Druzhba Pipeline Repairs, Unblocking €90 Billion EU Loan

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that repairs to the Soviet-era Druzhba oil pipeline, which carries Russian crude into Europe, are complete and that the pipeline can resume operation. The announcement marks a potential breakthrough in a months-long standoff that had blocked a €90 billion European Union loan for Ukraine, according to multiple reports.

“Ukraine has completed repair work on the section of the Druzhba oil pipeline that was damaged by a Russian strike. The pipeline can resume operation,” Zelenskyy wrote in a statement circulated on social media, as quoted by several outlets including France 24 and Deutsche Welle. He linked the pipeline’s readiness to the release of the EU loan, which had been frozen after Hungary and Slovakia—both reliant on Russian oil—accused Kyiv of stalling repairs. Hungary’s outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orban had tied the loan’s approval to the pipeline’s resumption, according to reports from Al Jazeera and AFP.

The pipeline, which runs from Russia through Ukraine to Central European countries, was shut down in late January after Ukraine said it was damaged by Russian strikes. Kyiv had pledged to repair it, but Hungary and Slovakia claimed the damage was exaggerated and that Ukraine was using the outage as leverage. Moscow, meanwhile, labeled the halt “energy blackmail,” according to Russian state news agency TASS.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Tuesday said she expected a “positive decision” on the loan within 24 hours, as quoted by Al Jazeera. EU ambassadors were scheduled to meet Wednesday to finalize the release of funds. The loan is part of a broader EU support package agreed in late 2025, with a portion earmarked for weapons and budget needs, according to Deutsche Welle.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also confirmed the infrastructure repairs, noting that “the most significant, artificially created obstacle, the Hungarian one, has also been removed,” as reported by TASS. He urged all parties to “move forward together so that Ukraine can receive the €90 billion loan.”

While the immediate obstacle appears resolved, analysts and officials caution that the broader context remains fraught. Oil revenue from the pipeline will continue to flow to Russia, which some experts say bolsters Moscow’s war effort, according to Al Jazeera’s analysis segment. At the same time, Ukraine has said it will only need to repay the loan if Russia pays reparations for war damages, a condition that introduces additional uncertainty.

Hungary and Slovakia remain among the most Kremlin-sympathetic EU members, and their willingness to lift objections could shift once Viktor Orban—who lost recent elections—leaves office. Still, as one unnamed Ukrainian source told AFP, restarting pumping could happen quickly once a formal request is made, but the risk of new attacks by Russian forces remains, a point Zelenskyy himself acknowledged.

For Ukraine, the loan is a critical lifeline as it faces mounting budget pressures from the ongoing war. The country has urged more sanctions on Russia, but the pipeline issue demonstrates the delicate balance between EU unity and individual member states’ energy dependencies.

Key Claims

  • Ukraine completed repairs on the Druzhda pipeline section damaged by a Russian strike, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statements as reported by Al Jazeera, France 24, Deutsche Welle, and other outlets.
  • The EU loan of €90 billion for Ukraine had been blocked by Hungary and Slovakia, which accused Kyiv of delaying repairs, as reported by Al Jazeera and AFP.
  • EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said a “positive decision” on the loan was expected within 24 hours, per Al Jazeera.
  • Hungary and Slovakia depended on the pipeline for Russian oil imports; Russia’s state news agency TASS said the pipeline also supplies Belarusian refineries.
  • Ukraine will only have to repay the loan if Russia pays reparations, as reported by Al Jazeera.
  • Some analysts and officials said oil revenues from the pipeline will help fund Russia’s war, according to Al Jazeera’s discussion.

Perspectives

  • Ukraine’s perspective: Kyiv insists the pipeline was damaged by Russian attacks and that its repair was a necessary step to unlock EU funding. Zelenskyy and other officials frame the resumption as a concession to European unity, but also stress that responsibility for supplies now rests with Europeans, as reported by TASS.
  • Hungary and Slovakia’s perspective: Both governments accused Ukraine of exaggerating damage and delaying repairs, arguing that the pipeline was operational and that Ukraine was using oil transit as a political tool. They linked the loan’s release to the pipeline’s resumption, as reported by Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle.
  • Russia’s perspective: Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, rejected Ukraine’s claims of damage and called the halt “energy blackmail,” according to TASS. Moscow also highlighted that the pipeline serves Russian oil exports to Europe.
  • European Union’s perspective: Brussels sought to balance support for Ukraine with the energy needs of member states, ultimately tying the loan to the pipeline’s repair. EU officials expressed optimism that the resolution would strengthen unity and allow funds to flow.
  • Analysts’ perspective: Experts quoted by Al Jazeera noted that while the loan is crucial for Ukraine, the continued oil revenues could prolong the conflict. They also questioned the long-term sustainability of the agreement given mutual mistrust.