SEATTLE (Oil Monster): Crude oil shipments to Europe via the Druzhba pipeline are poised to resume, easing a key energy bottleneck and potentially unlocking a major European Union financing package for Ukraine. Hungarian energy company MOL Group confirmed it has been notified that repair work on the Ukrainian section of the pipeline has been completed, clearing the way for flows to Hungary and Slovakia.
Transit had been suspended after damage caused by a drone strike disrupted operations earlier this year, intensifying political tensions across the region. Ukrainian operator Ukrtransnafta stated that force majeure conditions have now been lifted, allowing crude transport to restart.
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The development follows confirmation from Volodymyr Zelenskyy that infrastructure repairs were finalized. The restart could remove a major obstacle to approving a €90 billion EU loan package aimed at supporting Ukraine’s financial needs amid the ongoing conflict.
Hungary had previously withheld backing for the funding, citing concerns over disrupted oil supplies. With transit expected to normalize, EU diplomats are set to revisit discussions on the assistance package, which is considered critical for Ukraine’s economic stability over the next two years.
