EU Approves €90bn Loan for Ukraine as Oil Flow Resumes Through Druzhba Pipeline
Oil Transit Restarts After Months of Disruption
Ukraine has restarted the flow of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia, ending a halt that lasted for months after a Russian attack damaged the route earlier this year.
Officials said pipeline pressure came back on Wednesday morning, and oil transit picked up shortly after. They expect supplies to reach Slovakia and Hungary by Thursday. The pipeline had been idle since January 27.
Energy companies in the area, including Hungary’s MOL, are already getting ready for the shipments. The exact volumes aren’t clear yet, but initial reports confirm oil is moving through the network again.
EU Moves Forward With €90bn Support Package
After the pipeline restart, EU ambassadors in Brussels gave initial approval to a €90 billion loan package for Ukraine. The deal should get final approval soon.
Ukraine called this funding critical. Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka said it’s a “matter of life and death” for the country.
About two-thirds of the EU funds will go to defense. The rest will help Ukraine manage its finances, stabilize the economy, and support recovery.
Political Shift in Hungary Eases Deadlock
This agreement follows months of tense politics. Hungary’s former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blocked the loan earlier this year, demanding oil transit resume before any financial support.
Recent political change in Hungary solved the standoff. Orbán lost his seat after 16 years in charge, and his successor, Péter Magyar, has shown he wants to rebuild ties with the EU.
This shift cleared the way for talks to move forward quickly.
Energy and Geopolitics Remain Closely Linked
Restarting oil transit shows how energy supplies and politics are still tied together in the region. The Druzhba pipeline remains vital for getting crude oil to Central Europe.
The agreement also shows how EU cooperation can overcome political deadlock when it matters most.
