President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in a meeting with government officials and journalists that the damaged Druzhba pipeline, which transports oil from Russia through Ukraine to EU countries, could potentially resume operations within one to one and a half months. The pipeline was reportedly damaged during a Russian attack in January. Despite this optimistic timeline, Zelenskyy cautioned that this does not mean that all damage will be fully repaired before reopening.

The Druzhba pipeline is critical for the transport of oil to European Union nations, particularly Slovakia and Hungary. Tensions have arisen as both EU countries have accused Ukraine of delaying necessary repairs to the pipeline. Hungary has also taken a firm stance by blocking a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine, indicating a broader political context surrounding the operational issues of the pipeline.

Zelenskyy expressed reluctance to reopen the pipeline altogether, emphasizing the broader implications of dependency on Russian oil transport and the potential vulnerabilities such dependencies create. This statement highlights ongoing geopolitical tensions and Ukraine's navigation through its energy needs amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.