A €90 billion ($106 billion) EU loan to Ukraine won preliminary approval from the 27 EU countries on Wednesday after months in which Hungary had used a veto, diplomats said. The Cypriot EU presidency said final approval by all member states is expected on Thursday. The loan is intended to help Kyiv meet urgent economic and military needs as it continues to resist Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Druzhba pipeline at center of dispute
The move follows Kyiv’s announcement that the Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Ukraine, has resumed deliveries of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Those two countries could still block the final approval if no oil arrives in the EU by Thursday. Outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the Slovak government had accused Ukraine of delaying pipeline repairs — an allegation Kyiv denied. The prospects for the loan improved after Orban’s defeat in April elections; the winner, Peter Magyar, is not expected to take office until next month but has said he will no longer oppose the loan.
Sanctions on Russia also approved
EU countries also agreed to the bloc’s 20th package of sanctions on Russia, which had been delayed by the dispute with Hungary. The EU had hoped to adopt the package to mark the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion on February 24. The sanctions aim to weaken the Russian economy and reduce Moscow’s capacity to fund its war.
Edited by: Sean Sinico