Hungary Stops Blocking; EU's €90 Billion Loan to Ukraine Begins to Thaw
EU ambassadors approved a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine and a new sanctions package against Russia after Hungary dropped its veto due to the resumption of oil pipeline flows and domestic political changes.
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- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 21:41
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 22:02 (20 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 14:36 (16h 34m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA, Brussels, 22nd, Comprehensive Foreign Dispatch) Cyprus, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, stated that EU ambassadors today approved the pledged 90 billion euro (approximately $106 billion) loan to Ukraine and agreed on a new round of sanctions against Russia, after Hungary relinquished its veto power.
According to Reuters, the spokesperson for Cyprus also stated that it is expected the 27 EU member states will sign the agreement as early as tomorrow afternoon.
The EU agreed to provide this loan last year to meet Ukraine's financial needs from 2026 to 2027. However, pro-Russian Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban refused to sign the agreement, accusing Ukraine of delaying transport through the Russian crude oil pipeline. The Ukrainian side claimed the pipeline was damaged by Russian attacks.
This dispute also delayed new sanctions against Russia. The EU had originally planned to pass the new sanctions package on the 4th anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Hungarian oil and gas company MOL stated today that it has been notified that the Ukrainian operators of the 'Druzhba' pipeline are ready to resume crude oil transport to Hungary and Slovakia, finally removing the aforementioned obstacle.
MOL stated that the first batch of crude oil transported via this pipeline is expected to reach Hungary and Slovakia by tomorrow at the latest. Both countries currently remain highly dependent on Russia for their energy supplies.
Ukraine's chances of securing the loan improved following Orban's defeat in the Hungarian parliamentary elections on the 12th. Although he will not officially take office until next month, Peter Magyar, the leader of the victorious party, has already announced that Hungary will no longer block EU funding for Kyiv. (Translator: Ho Hung-ju) 1150422
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(CNA, Brussels, 22nd, Comprehensive Foreign Dispatch) Cyprus, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, stated that EU ambassadors today approved the pledged 90 billion euro (approximately $106 billion) loan to Ukraine and agreed on a new round of sanctions against Russia, after Hungary relinquished its veto power.
According to Reuters, the spokesperson for Cyprus also stated that it is expected the 27 EU member states will sign the agreement as early as tomorrow afternoon.
The EU agreed to provide this loan last year to meet Ukraine's financial needs from 2026 to 2027. However, pro-Russian Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban refused to sign the agreement, accusing Ukraine of delaying transport through the Russian crude oil pipeline. The Ukrainian side claimed the pipeline was damaged by Russian attacks.
This dispute also delayed new sanctions against Russia. The EU had originally planned to pass the new sanctions package on the 4th anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Hungarian oil and gas company MOL stated today that it has been notified that the Ukrainian operators of the 'Druzhba' pipeline are ready to resume crude oil transport to Hungary and Slovakia, finally removing the aforementioned obstacle.
MOL stated that the first batch of crude oil transported via this pipeline is expected to reach Hungary and Slovakia by tomorrow at the latest. Both countries currently remain highly dependent on Russia for their energy supplies.
Ukraine's chances of securing the loan improved following Orban's defeat in the Hungarian parliamentary elections on the 12th. Although he will not officially take office until next month, Peter Magyar, the leader of the victorious party, has already announced that Hungary will no longer block EU funding for Kyiv. (Translator: Ho Hung-ju) 1150422
Choose to stand with the facts; every sponsorship you make is the power to protect freedom of the press.
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The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.