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Druzhba Oil Pipeline to Resume Operations by End of April After Russian Strike, Zelenskyy Says
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the Druzhba oil pipeline, damaged by a Russian missile strike, is expected to resume operations by the end of April, following partial repairs.
Speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on April 14, Zelenskyy said the restoration work is progressing as planned.
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“As we promised, by the end of April it will be repaired—not completely, but enough to function,” he said.
Zelenskyy noted that not all storage facilities linked to the pipeline will be restored in the same timeframe, as that process is more complex and will take longer. However, he emphasized that the key objective is to restore operational capacity.
“But this is about something else: will it be able to function? Yes!” he added.
The president also expressed hope that the completion of repairs would coincide with the fulfillment of commitments by European Union countries, particularly Hungary, which has previously blocked decisions important to Ukraine.
⚡ BREAKING: The Druzhba pipeline will be repaired by the end of April, Zelenskyy says.
— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) April 14, 2026
He said that it will not be possible to repair all the storage tanks. However, the pipeline will be able to resume operations.
The announcement on the pipeline repairs came alongside renewed commitments of military support from Germany. During the same press conference on April 14, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin would provide Ukraine with additional aid packages, including air defense systems, long-range weapons, drones, and ammunition.
“Today we once again agreed on new aid packages, primarily in air defense. This includes air defense, long-range weapons, drones, and ammunition,” Merz said.
He noted that the cooperation strengthens not only Ukraine’s defense capabilities but also Germany’s own security, pointing out that Ukrainian forces have gained extensive combat experience unmatched by other European armies in recent decades.
Merz also highlighted expanding cooperation in advanced defense technologies, including joint drone production and a newly signed agreement between the two countries’ defense ministries to exchange digital battlefield data.
“Another example is the agreement just signed by our defense ministers on the exchange of digital combat data for the development of new weapons systems. The importance of this agreement is hard to overestimate. The fact that we are now developing such systems in Europe together with Ukraine increases Europe’s level of independence,” he said.
Zelenskyy added that a total of 10 agreements had been concluded with Germany, including provisions for supplying PAC-2 missiles for Patriot systems and additional missiles for IRIS-T air defense systems.
At the same time, Ukraine and Germany are in talks to establish a new partnership centered on advanced laser weapons technology.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov held discussions with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius to coordinate joint projects expected to be launched in the near future, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported on April 10.
The planned cooperation also provides strengthening air defense capabilities and increasing funding for both long-range and mid-range drone systems. In addition, both sides are exploring joint technological solutions, with particular attention given to future collaboration on laser-based weapons.
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