EU loan to Ukraine cannot be conditional on Druzhba pipeline, says Ukrainian foreign minister

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stressed during an online address to the Council of the European Union that the approval of a €90 billion loan from the European Union cannot be contingent on the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline.

Source: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on X, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Ukrainian Foreign Minister referred to Hungary, insisting that it is unacceptable to blackmail Ukraine by detaining people or seizing funds from a state-owned bank.

Andrii Sybiha called on Budapest to return the money seized from Ukraine's state-run Oschadbank's cash-in-transit personnel.

He also insisted on the need to immediately adopt the 20th package of EU sanctions against Russia.

Quote: "Pressure on Russia must increase and support for Ukraine must grow. I called on EU colleagues to adopt the 20th EU sanctions package without delay. Russia must not benefit from instability in the Middle East."

Background:

• Hungary is blocking the adoption of both decisions – the 20th package of sanctions against Russia and the €90 billion loan for Ukraine.
• On the sidelines of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced that Hungary would continue to block decisions until Ukraine resumes transit via the Druzhba pipeline.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his conviction that the resumption of oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline would be equivalent to lifting sanctions against Russia.
• Hungary and Slovakia initiated discussions on the Druzhba pipeline at a meeting of the Council of the EU on 16 March.

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