Russia plans to halt the transit of Kazakh oil to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline starting May 1, Reuters reported on April 21, citing industry sources who said Kazakhstan had received a notification from pipeline operator Transneft. Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy has not commented, while Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said he was not aware of such a decision.

Russia and Kazakhstan are in the midst of several energy-related disputes, including over transit terms for Russian crude flows to China via Kazakhstan's pipeline system, the future of Russian company Lukoil's stakes in Kazakh offshore projects, and Astana's efforts to reduce its Karachaganak field's reliance on Russia's Orenburg gas processing plant by deepening energy cooperation with China. Kazakhstan has supplied oil to Germany via the northern branch of the Druzhba pipeline since 2023 after EU sanctions halted Russian crude flows along the route. Shipments reached over 2 million tons in 2025 and were expected to increase in 2026. Separately, the southern branch of Druzhba, which delivers Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia via Ukraine, has faced intermittent disruptions, though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 21 that repairs to a damaged section had been completed and flows could resume.