Druzhba pipeline to resume tomorrow? Investigating claims
Illustrative photo: the Druzhba pipeline will not resume operations in the coming days (Getty Images)
Slovakia has stated that the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline is allegedly expected to be restored on February 26. However, Ukraine has no such plans, according to sources and Reuters.
Read also: Zelenskyy proposes that Orbán negotiate energy ceasefire with Putin
Slovakia’s statement
As Reuters writes, Slovakia’s Ministry of Economy said that the pipeline operator Transpetrol had allegedly received a notification from Ukraine about postponing the resumption of oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline until February 26.
What is really happening
"The information circulated by the media, citing the Slovak side, about the alleged completion of repair works and the restoration of the Druzhba oil pipeline following the Russian attack on January 27 does not correspond to reality," an RBC-Ukraine source familiar with the actual situation regarding the repair works and the condition of the pipeline said.
The source also emphasized that the Ukrainian side has not provided Slovakia with any information about the possibility of resuming transit in the coming days.
Strike on Druzhba
The transit of Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline was halted due to a Russian strike.
Despite this, Budapest and Bratislava began threatening Ukraine and issuing ultimatums.
In particular, on February 23, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that his country was suspending emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. In his view, supplies through the Druzhba pipeline have allegedly not resumed because of Ukraine.
For his part, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blocked the provision of a €90 billion loan to Ukraine from the European Union.
