Russian invasion The world's response

EU to vote on Ukraine loan – could be resolved this week

The long-running issue of the EU's €90 billion loan to Ukraine could be resolved this week, reports TT.

On Wednesday, the issue will be raised as a decision point during the meeting of EU ambassadors, and if they give the green light, a written procedure will be initiated to formally approve the loan.

Hungary's outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has been the stumbling block. Yesterday, he reversed course and said that he would approve the loan if Ukraine restarts the Druzhba oil pipeline, so that shipments of Russian oil to Hungary can resume.

Ukrainian President Zelensky has promised to do this in the near future. According to Orbán, Ukraine has given signals that this could happen as early as Monday.

France and Germany: Give Ukraine some EU status

France and Germany want to give Ukraine "symbolic" EU benefits in preparation for future full membership, writes the Financial Times.

They propose that Kyiv be allowed to sit in on EU summits, but not have voting rights or access to the budget.

Ukrainian government sources, however, express some skepticism and see it as a half-measure – one of them calls it "shadow membership".

- (EU leaders) must realize that they need Ukraine too. If they want real security, they must make a fair offer, says another.

Sources: Ukraine ready to turn on the oil tap – paving the way for much-needed EU loan

Russian oil is expected to start flowing through Ukraine in the Druzhba oil pipeline as early as tomorrow, sources with insight told Bloomberg.

The pipeline, which supplies Hungary and Slovakia with oil, was damaged in a Russian attack in January. Ukraine has now repaired it, and tomorrow it will be tested.

Once the oil is flowing, Ukraine can receive the 90 billion euro EU loan that Hungary has long blocked with its veto. Both the outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his successor Péter Magyar have made it clear that the veto will be lifted when the oil tap is turned on.

On Wednesday, EU ambassadors will vote on the loan. Ukraine desperately needs the money to finance its defense – at the moment it only has enough to get by until June, writes Bloomberg.