Ukraine Accepts EU Aid to Restore Druzhba Oil Pipeline

Ukraine has agreed to allow EU experts access to the Druzhba pipeline for inspection and restoration, following an offer of technical support and funding from the European Union. The move addresses damage to the pipeline, crucial for oil delivery to Hungary and Slovakia. The agreement comes after President Zelenskyy initially labeled EU demands for access as blackmail, but signals a potential easing of tensions. EU officials offered financial assistance to facilitate repairs, hoping to resolve a dispute that stalled critical aid to Ukraine. Hungary had been blocking a loan to Ukraine due to the pipeline outage, caused by a recent attack. This shift could pave the way for Hungary to lift its veto on major financial aid packages. While Ukraine accepted the offer, the resumption of Russian crude deliveries through the pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia is still expected to take several weeks.