April 20 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in an interview broadcast on Monday that the damaged Druzhba pipeline carrying Russian oil to Eastern European countries would be
Ukraine's Zelenskiy Confirms Druzhba Oil Pipeline Will Be Operational by Late April
Restoration and Political Reactions Surrounding the Druzhba Pipeline
Zelenskiy's Statement on Pipeline Restoration
April 20 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in an interview broadcast on Monday that the damaged Druzhba pipeline carrying Russian oil to Eastern European countries would be restored to operation by the end of April.
"It will be ready to operate by the end of April," Zelenskiy told a Ukrainian television interviewer.
Timing and Context of the Interview
The interview appeared to have been recorded before the broadcast, but it was not immediately clear when.
Zelenskiy earlier this month cited the end of April as a date for the pipeline's operations to be resumed.
Responses from Stakeholders
Naftogaz's Position
Ukraine state energy company Naftogaz has declined comment on when the pipeline's operations will be resumed.
Hungarian and Slovak Reactions
Hungarian Political Pressure
Hungarian election winner Peter Magyar called on Zelenskiy on Monday to reopen the damaged pipeline as soon as it is functional, and for Russia to resume oil shipments through it.
Accusations and Denials
Outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the Slovak government had accused Kyiv of delaying the repairs. Ukraine denies this.
Background: Disruption of 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.
(Reporting by Ron Popeski; Editing by Ethan Smith)
