Ukraine resumes oil transit, unlocking EU loan
Ukraine has resumed the transit of Russian oil through a key pipeline supplying Hungary and Slovakia, ending a months-long standoff that had delayed crucial European Union financial support for Kyiv. Shortly after the restart, EU ambassadors meeting in Brussels gave preliminary approval to a €90bn loan package for Ukraine, along with a new round of sanctions targeting Russia. Final approval is expected imminently. The funding, initially agreed in December, had been blocked by Viktor Orbán in February. His veto came after oil flows were disrupted due to damage caused by Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure. Budapest had insisted that supplies be restored before any financial support could proceed. Ukrainian authorities confirmed that repairs had been completed and pumping resumed, with oil expected to reach Slovakia and Hungary within days. The pipeline in question is part of the Druzhba pipeline, a […]