Bratislava confirmed the country resumed crude oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline early Thursday morning, after a three-month pause.

The transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline crossing Ukraine to Slovakia has restarted, according to Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Saková on Thursday morning.

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«The Ministry of Economy announces that at 2 am today, the acceptance of oil to Slovakia through the Druzhba pipeline recommenced,» Saková stated in a ministry release.

This official announcement resolves a prolonged deadlock involving Ukraine, the EU, Hungary, and Slovakia, which began after Russian crude oil transit was suspended due to a Russian strike on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in late January.

This development is expected to unlock the €90-billion funding package for Ukraine, which Hungary and Slovakia had vetoed since February, although it was initially agreed upon in December.

Disbursement of the loan is planned to start between late May and early June.

On Wednesday, Hungary’s energy company MOL indicated it received notification from Ukrtransnafta, the operator of the Ukrainian segment of the pipeline, that «the receipt of crude oil from Belarus through the Druzhba pipeline system commenced in Ukraine at noon today.»

The Druzhba pipeline, responsible for delivering affordable Russian crude oil to Slovakia and Hungary, was taken offline at the end of January following damage from a Russian drone attack.

Both Budapest and Bratislava accused Kyiv of intentionally obstructing transit, while Ukraine explained the suspension as a necessary response to repair the pipeline.