Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote to EU leaders on March 17, pledging to repair the damaged Druzhba oil pipeline and resume oil supplies to Central and Eastern European countries in about one and a half months.

In the letter, Zelensky detailed the timetable for the repair work to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel. He pointed out that due to the Russian attack, a key pumping station in Brody was completely shut down, and the damaged oil storage tank could not be repaired. He said that as long as there are no new attacks, the Brody pumping station is expected to regain its technical capacity within one and a half months, thus ensuring a full resumption of supplies.

In the letter, Zelensky stressed that the claim that Ukraine deliberately blocked the Druzhba oil pipeline was unfounded. He also said he accepted the EU's offer of technical and financial assistance and instructed the head of Ukraine's state oil and gas company to liaise with the EU ambassador to Ukraine. It is reported that in a letter to Zelensky on March 16, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel offered Ukraine technical and financial assistance to resume oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline. (Wang Jinyan)