Ukraine accepts EU offer to help restore Druzhba pipeline, repairs to take time
The Straits Times
BRUSSELS, March 17 - Ukraine accepted the European Union's offer of technical support and funding to restore oil flows through the damaged Druzhba pipeline on Tuesday but also signalled any resumption of Russian crude deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia was still weeks away. Read more at straitstimes.com.
BRUSSELS, March 17 - Ukraine accepted the European Union's offer of technical support and funding to restore oil flows through the damaged Druzhba pipeline on Tuesday but also signalled any resumption of Russian crude deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia was still weeks away.
In a letter to the EU released on Tuesday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said repair work on the pipeline was nearing completion and that the pumping station was expected to be restored in 1-1/2 months, "in the absence of any further attacks by Russia."
Hungary and Slovakia have been cut off from Russian oil deliveries via the Druzhba since late January after Kyiv said a Russian strike hit pipeline equipment in western Ukraine and would require time for repairs.
The Hungarian and Slovak governments - both of which have kept up political and energy ties with Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 - accuse Ukraine of delaying the resumption of oil flows. Kyiv denies this.
Ukraine's acceptance of support to renew Druzhba drew a tepid response on Tuesday, with Hungary's foreign minister calling it a "political game".
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