Russian Oil Transit via Ukraine to Restart
Ukraine has informed Slovakia that the transit of Russian oil through the 'Druzhba' pipeline will resume on February 26. The flow was previously halted after a Russian drone attack damaged the pipeline. While a restart was initially planned for February 25, Ukrainian authorities postponed the date without providing a specific reason for the delay. This pipeline is a critical route for delivering Russian oil to several landlocked European nations.
The Slovak government declared a state of emergency in its oil sector due to the supply stoppage. The disruption, caused by the drone strike, also cut off oil deliveries to Hungary via the 'Druzhba' system. Despite the suspension, the European Commission has assessed that there is no immediate short-term threat to the energy security of Hungary or Slovakia.
European Commission's Upcoming Proposal
Separately, the European Commission plans to present a legal proposal for a permanent ban on Russian oil imports to the EU on April 15. This proposal is scheduled just three days after Hungary's parliamentary elections. Therefore, while the resumption of transit is a key step in restoring supplies, its long-term viability is uncertain given the EU's evolving political landscape.
The restart of Russian oil flows through 'Druzhba' will impact the regional energy situation, occurring amidst heightened tensions over European energy supplies from Russia. Given the planned EU import ban, this resumption may only be a temporary measure that does not address the bloc's long-term energy challenges. Political decisions following the Hungarian elections could further reshape the future of the region's oil sector.