The Cypriot presidency of the European Union has just confirmed that the written procedure for adopting the €90bn loan for Ukraine and the 20th package of sanctions against Russia have now been completed, with unanimous agreement among the member states.
- +EU approves €90bn loan for Ukraine and fresh Russia sanctions – Europe live
- +Now we will move to swiftly implement on both fronts.”
- +Europe stands firm, united and unwavering in its support to Ukraine.”
Cypriot finance minister Makis Keravnos said the disbursement of the much-needed money for Ukraine will “start flowing as soon as possible.”
Cypriot finance minister Makis Keravnos said the disbursement of the much-needed money for Ukraine will “start flowing as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile Vladimir Putin has said that Russia will defend its national interests in the Arctic at a meeting with the government.
The Russian president also said the Northern Sea Route - a maritime passage through the Arctic - is growing in importance amid global disruptions, including instability in the Middle East.
Russian supplies of crude oil have begun flowing into Hungary, Hungarian energy group MOL said in a statement, bringing an end to a nearly three-month interruption in deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline.
In the statement, MOL said it had “received crude oil at the Fényeslitke and Budkovce pumping stations earlier Thursday. Crude oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline system have thus resumed to Hungary and Slovakia after a hiatus of nearly three months”.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also celebrated today’s decision, saying “deadlock over.”
“Deadlock over. The EU just cleared the way for the €90-billion-loan for Ukraine and the 20th sanctions package.
Russia’s war economy is under growing strain, while Ukraine is getting a major boost.
We will provide Ukraine what it needs to hold its ground, until Putin understands his war leads nowhere.”
Reminder: Hungary’s Orbán is skipping today’s EU summit in Cyprus, which would have been his last (for now?) before he steps down from his post early next month.
More EU leaders are joining in with their celebratory messages after the €90bn loan and the 20th package of sanctions got finally approved.
Sweden’s Ulf Kristersson welcomed the move after “prolonged blockages by Hungary and Slovakia”.
“Increased support to Ukraine and pressure on Russia is the key to peace in Ukraine,” he said.
The (relatively) new Dutch PM, Rob Jetten, said it was “a very important step, crucial for the Ukrainian struggle for freedom and thus for our security.”
Latvia’s Evika Siliņa said it was “long overdue – finally done,” as “Ukraine’s brave people deserve our full and unwavering support.”
In a pointed comment towards the outgoing Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, she added: “Europe must stay united and deliver. Agreements reached at the leaders’ level should always be respected and implemented.”
Estonia’s prime minister Kristen Michal urged the EU to “keep the pace” when confronting the Russian threat to Ukraine and Europe, warning that “peace will not come from compromises with the aggressor; it comes from strength.”
In his response to the EU’s decision, he said:
“Good news on the €90 billion loan for Ukraine. We are delivering on our promises.
But we must keep the pace. Peace will not come from compromises with the aggressor. It comes from strength. And this support helps Ukraine hold the line.
The 20th sanctions package is done. Work on the next ones is already under way. Pressure stays.”
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hailed the decision as “an important day for our defence and our relations with the European Union.”
In a post on X, he said the loan “will strengthen our army, make Ukraine more resilient, and enable us to fulfil our social obligations to Ukrainians.”
He also repeated his earlier comments that Ukraine will work to get the first tranche of money by “as early as May-June.”
“The funds from the European package will be directed, among other priorities, to arms production, the procurement of necessary weapons from partners that we do not yet produce in Ukraine, and the preparation of our energy sector and critical infrastructure for the next winter,” he said.
The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, is also quick to respond to the decision.
“We are on our way to Cyprus with good news.
I welcome the agreement from the Member States on the 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine for 2026-27 and on 20th sanctions package.
While Russia doubles down on its aggression, we are doubling down on our support to the brave Ukrainian nation enabling Ukraine to defend itself and putting pressure on Russia’s war economy.
Now we will move to swiftly implement on both fronts.”
António Costa, president of the European Council, is the first to celebrate the agreement.
“Promised, delivered, implemented.
The EU’s strategy to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine rests on two pillars: strengthening Ukraine; increasing pressure on Russia.
Today we moved forward on both: Unlocking the €90 billion loan to Ukraine, securing financial and military support for 2026–2027. Adopting the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, reducing its ability to wage war.
Europe stands firm, united and unwavering in its support to Ukraine.”
The Cypriot presidency of the European Union has just confirmed that the written procedure for adopting the €90bn loan for Ukraine and the 20th package of sanctions against Russia have now been completed, with unanimous agreement among the member states.
Cypriot finance minister Makis Keravnos said the disbursement of the much-needed money for Ukraine will “start flowing as soon as possible.”
The Duke of Sussex has warned “the world must not grow used” or “numb” to the conflict in Ukraine as he insisted he was speaking in the war-torn country not as “a politician” but as a “soldier who understands service”.
Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan, was addressing the Kyiv Security Forum during a surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital on Thursday.
I am not here as a politician. I am here as a soldier who understands service, as a humanitarian who has seen the human cost of conflict, and as a friend of Ukraine who believes the world must not grow used to this war or numb to its consequences.
Because what is happening here is not simply a war about territory. It is a war about values. About sovereignty.
About whether the principles that underpin our shared democracy still hold meaning.”
Directly addressing Russian president Vladimir Putin, Harry said:
“President Putin, no nation benefits from the continued loss of life we are witnessing.
There is still a moment – now – to stop this war, to prevent further suffering for Ukrainians and Russians alike, and to choose a different course.”
He also made reference to the “American leadership” but did not mention Donald Trump by name, saying it was a “moment for America to show that it can honour its international treaty obligations”.
“The United States has a singular role in this story. Not only because of its power, but because when Ukraine gave up nuclear weapons, America was part of the assurance that Ukraine’s sovereignty and borders would be respected.
