EU expects Druzhba pipeline to resume operations in the coming days

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has expressed hope that the Druzhba oil pipeline will resume operations in the coming days, which could help unblock a €90 billion financial package for Ukraine.

As reported by Ukrinform, Kos said the European Commission is optimistic that "with the support of the new government of Hungary, the Council will soon be in the position to formally open all negotiating clusters".

She also noted that the EU could provide Ukraine with the long-awaited €90 billion loan "as soon as the oil would flow in the Druzhba pipeline again [...] we will be able to provide Ukraine with the long awaited €90 billion loan". She suggested this could happen "already this week".

EU ambassadors are expected to attempt to give final approval to the €90 billion package for Ukraine on 22 April.

Hungary's incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar indicated that he will not block the €90bn EU loan for Ukraine, as the decision has already been made, although he confirmed that Budapest will not participate in it.

Meanwhile, Magyar called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to resume the transit of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline.