Despite shows of unity, the EU failed to approve a €90bn loan for Kyiv, blocked by Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán’s veto over Ukraine’s oil transit restrictions.
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Viktor Orbán conditioned Hungary’s support on resolving the dispute blocking Russian oil transit through Ukraine via the Druzhba pipeline, critical for Budapest and Slovakia’s energy security. 25 of 27 EU leaders backed the loan per diplomats, but unanimity is required.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking via video from Kyiv, criticised the repeated delays, noting previously agreed decisions remain stalled. The €90bn package (initially €50bn G7 commitment, expanded for defence/macro-financial aid) faces urgency as Ukraine needs funds by early May.
The European Commission dispatched experts to address the technical pipeline issue. Leaders will revisit at their late April summit, amid Ukraine’s mounting budget pressures from war costs and frozen Russian assets designated for repayment guarantees.
