Russian oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline that crosses Ukraine have resumed. Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Saková, along with energy companies in Ukraine and Hungary, confirmed the restart. Flow resumed at 2 a.m. Thursday, ending a three-month halt, and Bratislava confirmed it has begun receiving crude oil.
The pipeline has been at the center of a standoff between Ukraine, the EU, Hungary, and Slovakia. Unlike most of the European Union, Hungary and Slovakia still depend on Russia for their energy needs and have been locked in an escalating feud with Ukraine since oil deliveries were first halted in January.
Hungary and Slovakia accused Ukraine of failing to repair a damaged pipeline. As a result, Hungary blocked a massive EU loan to Ukraine, while Slovakia refused to endorse new sanctions against Russia until the supplies were restored.