The European Union’s proposed loan of €90 billion to Ukraine is contingent upon the operational status of the Druzhba oil pipeline. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this during a recent briefing, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Zelensky indicated that he would not support the restoration of the Druzhba pipeline and has communicated this stance to European leaders. He remarked, “There are some things that have no price. They are killing us, and we must provide oil to Orbán (Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán) because he, poor thing, cannot win elections without this oil.”
Despite his reservations, Zelensky noted that the EU has warned Ukraine that the €90 billion loan will be blocked unless the country initiates the restoration of the pipeline. This position is currently informal.
During discussions with European Council President Charles Michel, Zelensky stated that Naftogaz CEO Serhiy Koretsky will assess the time required for restoration efforts. He mentioned that preliminary information suggests the pipeline could be operational within one to one and a half months, although he cautioned that this does not guarantee the restoration of previous capacities.
He further explained that restoration is feasible only if EU countries do not find alternative solutions to circumvent the loan blockade for Ukraine.
The European Union's €90 billion loan to Ukraine is tied to the operational status of the Druzhba pipeline. President Zelensky has expressed reluctance to restore the pipeline, citing the political implications for Hungary's leadership.