No good news: EU doubts Ukraine loan approval
Kaja Kallas, EU foreign policy chief (photo: Getty Images)
The European Union cannot yet confidently say that the €90 billion loan for Ukraine will be approved, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said while speaking with journalists.
According to her, there are currently "some obstacles" in the context of the adoption of the 20th package of sanctions against Russia and the allocation of a loan for Ukraine.
"The work is ongoing to overcome these obstacles, but unfortunately, today I don't have good news to deliver here that this loan will be disbursed. That's why we are still working, and hopefully we will get this decision next time," she said.
Sybiha's explanation
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha clarified that Kallas spoke very diplomatically about the obstacle to the loan.
"I will name this obstacle. It is Hungary, which, abusing its status as an EU and NATO member, is blocking and thus has taken the entire European Union, entire European policy, enlargement, and unity hostage. Therefore, we very much hope that ways will be found to overcome this artificially created obstacle," an official said.
Hungary's pressure
Hungary began pressuring Ukraine after the Druzhba pipeline stopped operating due to a Russian strike.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that until Ukraine repairs the pipeline and Russian oil starts flowing again to Hungary, no funds for Ukraine will be allocated.
Thus, Budapest is delaying the provision of a critically important €90 billion loan to Ukraine.
Yesterday, March 30, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained that due to this situation, preparation for next winter is under threat. Ukraine lacks funding for a large-scale plan worth $5.1 billion.
