Ukraine has resumed pumping Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia, ending months of disruption which had delayed crucial EU financial support. The restart followed repairs to infrastructure damaged during earlier attacks, clearing a key obstacle to the approval of a €90bn EU loan package intended to support Ukraine’s defence and economy. EU ambassadors meeting in Brussels gave preliminary approval to the loan and to a 20th package of sanctions on Russia. The breakthrough comes after the political change in Hungary, where Viktor Orbán had previously blocked the funding; the incoming leadership under Péter Magyar is expected to pursue improved relations with the EU. Officials emphasise the importance of the funding for Ukraine’s stability, as the ongoing conflict with Russia continues to strain resources and regional security. However, Ukrainian media report that it could still take weeks for the funding to arrive in Kyiv.