Ukraine expects to sign over €10 billion in defense, business, and development agreements at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Poland. The EU delivered its first €3.2 billion loan tranche, with more to follow.
Ukraine expects to sign over 160 agreements worth >€10B, secures €3.2B EU loan tranche, amid EU support for reconstruction and defense, despite tensions with Poland over WWII legacy.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys urged Europe to reconsider using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine financially and pressure Moscow into peace talks. He stated that while a recent loan package was a step, frozen assets represent a more substantial resource and leverage for negotiations.
Russian envoy Rodion Miroshnik stated that Ukrainian President Zelensky is content with the conflict's continuation, especially after Ukraine's access to a €90 billion EU loan. Miroshnik cited this as a reason for Zelensky's lack of desire for peace talks.
Prime minister uses European Political Community summit to begin negotiations for UK participation in schemeKeir Starmer has said the benefit of joining the European Union’s £78bn loan scheme for Ukraine “outweighs the cost” as he argued the continent must move at pace to bolster its own defence.The prime minister, who said the UK’s involvement in the recovery loan plan would also help create jobs at home, acknowledged that tensions are high between Donald Trump and Europe, particularly over military issues. Continue reading...
Slovakia won’t participate in any EU loans for Ukraine, including the €90 billion package approved last month, PM Robert Fico has insisted Read Full Article at RT.com
Sir Keir Starmer says the UK is discussing joining a €90bn EU loan scheme to support Ukraine, which will create jobs in Britain and improve UK-EU relations. The scheme, approved by EU leaders last month after Hungary lifted its veto, will provide two-thirds of funds for Ukraine's defense needs. Starmer met President Zelensky in Armenia ahead of the summit, with further UK sanctions on Russian companies expected this week.
Keir Starmer is attending a European Political Community summit in Yerevan, Armenia, where he announced UK plans to join the EU's €90bn (£78bn) loan for Ukraine. The loan, previously blocked by Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, will provide military support for Ukraine and give British defence firms access to major contracts. The move is part of Starmer's efforts to improve post-Brexit UK-EU relations ahead of a summer summit.
EU approval of 90-billion-euro loan to Ukraine fails to conceal deep divisions among member states over Kyiv's EU membership bid, with Estonian PM Kristen Michal advocating acceleration while Croatian PM Andrej Plenkovic calls realistic accession by January 2027 unlikely. European Council President Antonio Costa ruled out accelerated membership following informal summit in Cyprus.
Sahra Wagenknecht, veteran German politician and founder of the BSW party, has criticized Chancellor Friedrich Merz after the EU approved a €90 billion interest-free loan to Ukraine. The loan, which will begin disbursements in Q2 2026, was finalized after Hungary lifted its veto following Ukraine's resumption of oil flows to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline. Germany, the EU's largest economy, has already provided almost €44 billion to Ukraine since 2022, with aid set to increase to €11.5 billion this year.
Oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline have resumed after nearly three months of disruption caused by a Russian strike in January, clearing the final hurdle for the EU's €90 billion loan to Ukraine. Slovakia confirmed crude intake resumed at 2:00 a.m. Thursday, meeting Hungary's condition for lifting its veto. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had blocked the loan—backed by profits from frozen Russian assets—demanding oil flows be restored first. If ministers approve this week, Kyiv could receive the funds as early as May.
Ukraine has resumed pumping Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline into Hungary and Slovakia, ending a months-long deadlock over a €90bn EU loan for Kyiv. The oil transit resumed on Wednesday after repairs to damage caused by a Russian attack in late January. EU ambassadors meeting in Cyprus gave preliminary approval to the loan and a 20th sanctions package on Russia. Hungary's Viktor Orbán, who lost his 16-year grip on power in Sunday's election, had demanded the oil flow resume before lifting his veto on the loan.
Through Brussels, Budepest has "received an indication from Ukraine that they are ready to restore oil deliveries" via the Druzhba pipeline "as early as Monday, provided that Hungary lifts its blockade of the €90 billion EU loan", Viktor Orban said
