Zelenskyy: I wouldn't restore Druzhba oil pipeline because it's Russian oil

Ukraine is awaiting an official request to resume operations of the Druzhba oil pipeline, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated.

"To be honest, I wouldn’t restore it [the Druzhba]. That’s my position. I expressed it to European leaders and those who called me about this issue, as well as to the leadership of the European Union, because it’s Russian oil," Zelenskyy said during a briefing on Thursday.

The president noted that there are still some principles that are priceless. Specifically, the Russians are killing Ukrainians, and "we have to give oil to Orbán, because he, poor thing, can’t win the election without it."

According to Zelenskyy, the EU has stated that the EUR 90 billion loan will be blocked if Ukraine does not begin restoring the pipeline.

"And I’ve strongly requested that this be official, so that no one can say we’re making something up or not letting anyone in. We’re waiting for an official request. I think it will definitely be in one format or another," he noted.

Russian oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia have been suspended since January 27 following Russian shelling of the pipeline near Brody in Lviv region. Ukraine attributes the lack of transit to damage and the need for repairs, which have been delayed due to the hostile attacks. Meanwhile, the leaders of Slovakia and Hungary, the only EU countries still receiving Russian oil, accuse Kyiv of political reasons for the supply halt and, in response, have blocked diesel fuel deliveries to Ukraine.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Hungary would block the European Union from adopting a new package of sanctions against Russia and the allocation of a EUR 90 billion reparation loan from the EU until the Druzhba oil pipeline, damaged during the Russian shelling on January 27, remains closed.