Ukraine to Reopen Russian Oil Pipeline

[Financial News]  
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Ukraine has decided to resume operations on the Russian oil pipeline as prices rise amid supply disruptions caused by the war in Iran.
According to the Financial Times (FT), President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on the 21st local time that Ukraine had completed repairs to the Russian oil pipeline and was ready to send oil again to Hungary and Slovakia.
The suspension of pipeline operations for several months has also delayed a 9 billion euro loan to Ukraine.
In a post on social media X (formerly Twitter), President Zelenskyy said, "Our experts have secured the basic conditions needed to restart the pipeline system and equipment," adding, "We can resume pipeline operations."
Zelenskyy added, however, that "no one can guarantee at this point that Russia will not repeat attacks on pipeline infrastructure."
Earlier, Ukraine said Russia's attack in January damaged the Druzhba oil pipeline and nearby infrastructure.
FT reported that photos from the time showed a 75,000-cubic-meter oil storage facility burning.
However, the pro-Russia governments of Hungary and Slovakia claimed that Ukraine had deliberately blocked Russian oil exports.
The two countries also vetoed the European Union (EU)'s 9 billion euro loan package for Ukraine. They have insisted they cannot support the loan until oil flows resume.
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dympna@fnnews.com Song Kyung-jae Reporter