Incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar of Hungary shared on April 17 that Russia's oil flow through the Druzhba oil pipeline may be restored next week.
Mr. Magyar informed that the Hungarian oil and gas group MOL reported that, "based on data from partners, the Druzhba pipeline is expected to resume operation next week".
The Druzhba oil pipeline transports Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia through Ukrainian territory and has become a hotspot of tension between Budapest and Kiev after the flow was disrupted due to damage in a drone strike in late January.
Hungary is heavily dependent on Russian energy. After the supply through Druzhba was interrupted, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán used his veto power to block a 90 billion euro loan package from the European Union (EU) for Ukraine.
This financial package was agreed upon by 27 EU leaders in December last year, but by mid-February this year, Mr. Orbán blocked the related legal process.
Along with the announcement on April 17, it is known that EU officials are meeting in Budapest with Mr. Magyar's group on many issues, including the disbursement of about 17 billion euros in aid to Hungary, which was frozen during the time Mr. Orbán was in power.
Mr. Magyar will officially take power in May, but the EU wants to promote early negotiations to accelerate cooperation with the new government. Preliminary exchanges before the new government takes office are to ensure that action can be taken as soon as necessary, avoiding wasting time.
