Ukraine Moves to Resume Druzhba Pipeline Oil Flows

Ukraine expects the Druzhba pipeline to resume this week, clearing the way for EU approval of a €90 billion loan. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and European council secretary general Alain Berset shake hands as they speak after the signing of an agreement for establishing a special tribunal to try top officials responsible for Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, eastern France, on June 25, 2025. (Photo by FREDERICK FLORIN / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Ukraine expects oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline to resume on Tuesday, potentially clearing the way for the European Union to approve a €90 billion ($106 billion) loan package for Kyiv, Bloomberg reported. Ukrainian officials said on Monday that technical conditions are in place to restart oil flows, easing concerns among several European countries affected by the recent transit halt. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . EU ambassadors are poised to approve the loan on Wednesday if the Druzhba pipeline, a major route for transporting Russian crude oil, resumes in time. The move follows a decision by the Cypriot presidency of the Council of the EU to place the Ukraine loan on the agenda of a meeting of the bloc’s 27 ambassadors, indicating optimism that the deal can be approved. The €90 billion ($106 billion) Ukraine Support Loan was designed to provide predictable financing for the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years, covering roughly two-thirds of the country’s estimated financial needs. Budapest had initially agreed to the loan in December but blocked it in February amid a dispute over the pipeline. Outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán accused Ukraine of delaying repairs in retaliation for Hungary’s friendly ties with Russia, a claim that Kyiv has rejected. Orbán said on Sunday he would drop his opposition once transit through the Druzhba pipeline - which was damaged in a Russian strike in January - is restored. Other Topics of Interest Ukraine and IAEA Prepare Memorandum on Energy Infrastructure Recovery Ukraine and the International Atomic Energy Agency are preparing a memorandum to support the recovery of infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said last week that the pipeline would be operational by the end of the month , though diplomats say there is a strong chance flows could resume before Wednesday’s meeting, POLITICO reported. Zelensky had previously pledged to repair the pipeline shortly after opposition leader Péter Magyar defeated Orbán in Hungary’s recent election. If approved this week, the loan would allow Ukraine to begin receiving funds in May, after the European Commission completes technical checks expected to take several weeks. Veronika Sukhanych is a political analyst with a foundation in governance, legal research, and international policy. Kyiv-born and educated in comparative politics, her background includes research on global financial institutions, responsible AI governance, and security policy.