
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday that a pipeline transporting Russian oil through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia, which sustained damage in attacks by Moscow, is expected to resume operations by the end of April. Zelensky stated in Berlin that the pipeline would be sufficiently repaired to function. The pipeline's status has been a point of contention between Zelensky, who advocates for all EU nations to cease purchasing Russian energy, and Hungary's outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Orban, who maintained strong relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin despite the invasion of Ukraine, recently experienced an election defeat, concluding his 16-year tenure. He made Ukraine a key campaign issue, characterizing Kyiv as "hostile" to Hungary. His successor, Magyar, while promising a new direction in Hungarian politics, also opposes providing EU military aid to Ukraine and fast-tracking Kyiv's entry into the 27-nation bloc. Zelensky expressed readiness for discussions with Magyar, whom he congratulated on Sunday evening following the closure of polls, stating, "We are ready for a meeting. Whenever the new prime minister is ready."
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.