KYIV, April 10 (Reuters) - Ukraine has made significant progress restoring the damaged Druzhba oil pipeline and will complete the repairs in spring, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, amid a bitter
Ukraine Targets Spring Completion for Druzhba Oil Pipeline Repairs Amid Dispute
Progress and Political Tensions Surrounding Druzhba Pipeline Repairs
KYIV, April 10 (Reuters) - Ukraine has made significant progress restoring the damaged Druzhba oil pipeline and will complete the repairs in spring, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, amid a bitter row with Hungary over the disruption to supplies of Russian oil.
Background: Disruption of Russian Oil Deliveries
Hungary and Slovakia have been cut off from Russian oil deliveries via Druzhba since late January after a Russian drone strike damaged the pipeline in western Ukraine.
Accusations and Denials
The Hungarian and Slovak governments - both of which have maintained close political and energy ties with Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 - accuse Kyiv of delaying the repairs. Ukraine denies this.
Official Statements on Repair Timeline
"We will complete the repairs because that is the agreement. I told them we would finish this spring," Zelenskiy told reporters in remarks released by his office on Friday. "A lot has already been done there... Of course, destroyed storage tanks cannot be repaired quickly."
Impact on EU Relations and Hungarian Politics
The dispute over the oil transit has led Hungary to block a 90-billion-euro ($103 billion) loan from the European Union for Ukraine as long as flows via the Druzhba remain suspended.
Upcoming Hungarian Elections
Hungary holds parliamentary elections on Sunday, with polls showing Prime Minister Viktor Orban trailing the centre-right Tisza party.
Industry Insights on Repair Completion
An industry source earlier this month told Reuters that April was the most likely timeframe for completing the work.
(Reporting by Olena Harmash; Editing by Daniel Flynn)
