Ukraine completes repairs on Druzhba oil pipeline, it can resume operations - Zelensky
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine has completed repair works on a section of the Druzhba oil pipeline that was damaged by a Russian strike, and it can now resume functioning.
The Head of State announced this following discussions with government officials on priorities in energy cooperation with partners, Ukrinform reports, citing his Telegram channel.
"As agreed in communication with the European Union, 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. Although no one can currently guarantee that Russia will not repeat attacks on the pipeline infrastructure, our specialists have ensured the basic conditions for restoring the operation of the pipeline system and equipment," he wrote.
Zelensky noted that Ukraine links this to the unblocking of a European support package for Ukraine that has already been approved by the European Council.
"We also hope our partners will take the necessary steps regarding the EU negotiation clusters for Ukraine – we have already fulfilled our part of the work on the first clusters," he said.
The President stressed the importance of continuing systematic sanctions pressure on Russia and further efforts to diversify energy supplies in Europe. According to him, Europe must become independent from those who seek to weaken or destroy it.
He also noted that, amid the crisis caused by the war in Iran, it is important to fully implement agreements on supplying Ukraine with the necessary fuel volumes.
"The volumes for April and May are secured," he said. Zelensky added that a meeting in the "Energy Ramstein format" format is being prepared for this week. According to him, it is necessary to accelerate funding for restoration works and the construction of protection for energy facilities.
As reported, Hungarian parliamentary election winner Péter Magyar is convinced that current Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who will remain in office for another month, will lift the "technical veto" on the EUR 90 billion aid package for Ukraine if oil supplies via the "Druzhba" pipeline resume.