Ukraine Repairs Druzhba Pipeline, Securing EU Loan Amid Hungary and Slovakia Disputes

The European Union approved a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine on April 23, 2026, after Hungary lifted its veto following the repair of the Druzhba pipeline. The pipeline, which carries Russian oil through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia, had been out of service since January 27, 2026.

Ukraine attributed the outage to damage from a Russian air raid on a pumping station. Hungary and Slovakia rely on the Druzhba pipeline for their crude oil supplies, receiving 9.25 million tonnes in the previous year, valued at more than $4 billion.

Other EU countries, including Austria, Czechia, Germany, and Poland, have transitioned away from the pipeline despite an exemption allowing its use.

and Inspections Hungarian Prime Minister

Viktor Orban expressed suspicion about the cause of the damage and wrote to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on March 3, 2026, requesting enforcement of Ukraine's transit obligations. A Hungarian team visited Kyiv on March 14, 2026, but was not permitted to access the site.

A European team arrived three days later and was also denied access. Oil flow resumed on April 23, 2026, coinciding with the EU loan approval.

parliament member Inna Sovsun, who sits on the energy committee, stated that providing funds to Russia through oil sales while Ukraine receives aid is immoral. She told Al Jazeera, “In order for us to get some money to survive, the aggressor who is killing us needs to get some money, as well.

Energy experts noted that alternatives like importing refined products would be costly and could impact local economies, including production of petroleum-based goods.

The dispute occurs amid ongoing tensions, including Hungary's blocking of Ukraine's EU accession talks in June 2025 and a referendum where 95 percent of ballots opposed Ukraine's EU membership. Slovakia, under Fico, also vetoed the accession talks and an EU sanctions package against Russia.

Relations between Ukraine and Slovakia showed signs of improvement in September 2025, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Fico met in Uzhgorod to inaugurate a new railway section. Fico stated he would support Ukraine's EU accession. Energy consultant John Roberts described the Druzhba pipeline as the former backbone of supply for Central Europe.

Costis Stambolis, executive director of the Institute of Energy for Southeast Europe, explained that shutting down refineries in Hungary and Slovakia would lead to economic losses in related industries.