Bratislava: Oil supplies from Russia to Slovakia have resumed through the Druzhba pipeline after a gap of nearly three months, bringing relief to the country and easing a tense dispute in Europe.
Slovak officials confirmed that crude oil began flowing again early Thursday through the pipeline that crosses Ukraine. The restart comes after weeks of uncertainty that had raised concerns about fuel shortages and economic pressure in Slovakia and neighbouring Hungary.
The disruption began in late January, when Ukraine reported damage to pipeline infrastructure following a Russian drone attack. While Kyiv said repairs were needed, Slovakia and Hungary accused Ukraine of delaying the resumption of supplies, leading to a sharp diplomatic disagreement.
The Druzhba pipeline is one of the main routes carrying Russian oil into Central Europe. Although many European Union countries have reduced their dependence on Russian energy since the war in Ukraine began, Slovakia and Hungary still rely heavily on these supplies for their refineries and domestic needs.
The restart of oil deliveries has also helped unlock a wider political issue within the European Union. Hungary had been blocking a major financial aid package for Ukraine, citing concerns linked to the oil disruption. With the flow now restored, the blockage has been lifted, allowing the aid package to move forward.
Officials expect the resumed deliveries to stabilise supply in the coming weeks. However, tensions remain, as there is no clear long term agreement between the countries involved. Questions also continue over the exact cause of the disruption and whether it was purely due to damage or influenced by political factors.
The situation highlights how closely energy supplies and politics are connected in Europe during the ongoing war. Even as oil begins to flow again, the risk of further disruptions remains due to continued conflict and the fragile state of infrastructure in the region.