Zelenskyy tells EU leaders Druzhba oil flows will be restored within six weeks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that restoring transit via the Druzhba oil pipeline, damaged by Russian strikes, will take about a month and a half.

Source: a letter from the president to EU leaders, which was seen by European Pravda

Details: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa proposed technical and financial assistance to Ukraine in a letter dated 16 March to help restore oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline.

In his reply dated 17 March, Zelenskyy explained that the latest damage to the pipeline's infrastructure is quite serious and that the complete shutdown of one pumping station – in Brody – makes it impossible to maintain sufficient pressure in the pipeline to ensure safe transit.

He described claims suggesting that Ukraine is deliberately blocking oil transit through Druzhba as unfounded.

The president also assured EU leaders that Ukraine had begun working on an alternative technical solution immediately after the strike and that this work is nearing completion.

"We expect that within approximately one and a half months the Brody pumping station will restore the technical capability," Zelenskyy said. "This will ensure a full restoration of flows, of course in the absence of any further attacks from Russia. Preliminary technical assessments indicate that the damaged oil tank cannot be restored. Ukraine is therefore considering constructing underground storage infrastructure as a longer-term and more sustainable solution."

"Within this context, I welcome and accept your offer of the necessary technical support and funding to be able to conclude the repair work as well as to explore the longer-term sustainable solutions," he said, adding that he will instruct the head of Naftogaz, Ukraine's largest national oil and gas company, to liaise with the EU ambassador in Ukraine on the matter.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine could offer alternative transit routes for non-Russian oil to Central and Eastern European countries.

"I would also like to reiterate the importance of implementing the EU's decision to fully phase out imports of Russian oil under the REPowerEU initiative by the end of 2027," he said. "This would represent a decisive step towards strengthening the European Union's energy independence and eliminating vulnerabilities associated with Russia's use of energy as a weapon."

The president also raised the issue of EU decisions on a €90 billion loan for Ukraine and the 20th package of sanctions against Russia needing to be unblocked.

Background:

• On 17 March, EU leaders publicly confirmed their offer of assistance and said Kyiv has accepted it.
• The suspension of Russian oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline has further strained relations between Kyiv and Budapest and significantly complicated ties with Bratislava.
• The Hungarian and Slovak leaders argue that the suspension of supplies is politically motivated rather than a repercussion of Russian strikes.
• Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has said Hungary will continue to block key EU decisions important for Ukraine until transit via Druzhba is restored.
• President Zelenskyy has previously stated that restoring oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline would be equivalent to lifting sanctions on Russia.

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