After months-long halt: Russian oil flows again to Slovakia and Hungary

(Patria) - Slovakia and Hungary announced yesterday that they are again receiving Russian crude oil via the Druzhba pipeline, after a months-long interruption that led Budapest to block a key loan to Ukraine.

The Druzhba pipeline turned into one of the most politically sensitive infrastructure facilities in Europe in January after the suspension of Russian oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia, for which Ukraine blamed a Russian air strike.

On Wednesday, the energy source started flowing again through the Ukrainian section of the pipeline, prompting Hungary to withdraw its veto on a 90 billion euro European Union loan to Ukraine.

Slovakia confirmed the arrival of oil early yesterday, followed by Hungarian oil company MOL.

"The supply of crude oil via the Druzhba pipeline has thus been resumed to Hungary and Slovakia, after a pause of nearly three months," MOL said in a statement.

Slovakia announced it expects to receive 119,000 tons of oil via the pipeline by the end of April, Reuters reports.

Ukraine claimed the flow interruption was due to damage to the pipeline, while Hungary and Slovakia accused it of stalling.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who maintains close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, said he welcomed the reopening of the pipeline but also believes it proves the blockade was politically motivated.

- I believe that yesterday and today a serious relationship was established between Ukraine and the European Union through the agreements reached on the loan and the opening of the Druzhba pipeline.

I consider that the opening of Druzhba at two o'clock this morning confirms that the pipeline was not damaged... and that the pipeline and oil were used as a tool in a geopolitical struggle - Fico told reporters yesterday.

There was no independent verification of the damage, but the European Union supported Ukraine's claims that the pipeline was hit by Russian forces, Reuters writes.

Hungary and Slovakia still rely on Russian oil and gas and seek to maintain supplies despite EU efforts to halt imports of Russian energy after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.