BRUSSELS — Representatives from European Union member nations convened Wednesday in Brussels, with many expressing cautious hope that a crucial $106 billion aid package for Ukraine could receive approval following months of political gridlock.
The diplomatic gathering focused on whether Hungary would withdraw its opposition to the massive 90-billion-euro financial assistance program, which Ukraine urgently requires to sustain its defense efforts and stabilize its war-torn economy over the coming two years.
Hungarian officials have maintained their position that Russian oil deliveries through Ukrainian territory must restart before they would support releasing the funds. Both Hungary and Slovakia depend heavily on Russian petroleum imports to satisfy their domestic energy requirements.
Both nations have blamed Ukraine for not fixing a compromised pipeline system that transports the oil. Ukraine and the majority of its European allies have opposed Russian oil imports, arguing these purchases provide financial support for President Vladimir Putin’s military campaign, which has now entered its fifth year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Tuesday through social media that his country had finished repairing the Druzhba pipeline system. “The pipeline can resume operation,” Zelenskyy stated, noting the infrastructure “was damaged by a Russian strike.”
However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has indicated he would only support the Ukrainian loans after oil transportation resumes, leaving diplomats waiting for confirmation from Budapest that the blockade will end. Orbán, known for repeatedly obstructing EU assistance to Ukraine, suffered a decisive electoral defeat on April 12 and will step down next month, with pro-European opposition leader Péter Magyar set to take his place.
Cyprus, which currently leads the EU’s rotating presidency, plans to initiate a formal written process to approve the remaining components of the loan arrangement. This procedure would require Hungary or any other dissenting country to provide written justification for their opposition.
These formal processes typically remain open for at least 24 hours, though the exact timeline Cyprus will establish remains unclear. Final authorization could potentially occur Thursday during an EU leaders’ summit scheduled in Cyprus.
Considering numerous previous disappointments in recent months, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas hesitated to predict the outcome when questioned by journalists Tuesday. “We expect an agreement in 24 hours, so I don’t want to jinx it,” she remarked.
The 27-member European Union initially planned to secure the loan using frozen Russian assets held in Europe as backing. Belgium, however, prevented this approach since most of the frozen assets are located within its borders.
Last December, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia committed to allowing their EU partners to secure the funding through international markets, provided the three nations wouldn’t be required to participate directly in the arrangement.
Orbán subsequently frustrated the remaining 24 countries by abandoning this agreement due to the pipeline disagreement and amid intensifying campaign activities before his landslide electoral loss.
During a Tuesday evening speech, Zelenskyy argued that “there can be no grounds for blocking” the financial assistance any longer. “The EU asked Ukraine to repair the Druzhba oil pipeline, which had been destroyed by Russia. We have repaired it.”
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha informed reporters that Ukraine had fulfilled its obligations. “We have completed everything — there is a date (set), and the infrastructure has been repaired.”
Since February, the EU has also attempted to advance additional sanctions against Russia, which Hungary and Slovakia have continued to block. These measures may require more time to approve than the loan package.
Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár stated Tuesday that his nation would only agree once “Russian oil arrives in Slovakia through the Druzhba pipeline. I can state that we do not have such information yet.”
Economy Minister Denisa Saková indicated Slovakia anticipates oil deliveries to restart early Thursday.
According to Saková, information from Ukrtransnaft, the company managing the pipeline within Ukrainian territory, confirmed that oil began flowing through the Druzhba system again Wednesday.
