STORY: :: File
Ukraine is ready to resume pumping oil through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia.
That's according to Hungary's oil group MOL on Wednesday, who said they were informed by the Ukrainian operator of the pipeline.
Oil flows were suspended following a Russian attack on a pumping facility in Ukraine in January.
The lengthy suspension sparked an angry backlash from European Union members Hungary and Slovakia, which remain reliant on Russian oil imports via Druzhba.
They accused Kyiv of deliberately dragging its feet over the repairs, which it denied.
On Tuesday, Slovakia's foreign minister said they would not block the next EU sanctions package against Russia if Druzhba oil supplies resume.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban vetoed a two-year $105 billion EU loan for Ukraine, despite it already being approved by the European Council.
Orban - an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin - lost a bid for reelection opening the way to unblocking the loan.
Speaking in his nightly video address on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said repairs were complete and urged the EU to ensure the release of the funding.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she expected a positive decision on the loan within 24 hours.
Ukraine is reliant on Western financial support, four years into the war with Russia.
Economists say it could start to run low on money by June without the EU loan.
