Slovakia and Hungary will not block Ukraine loan, Czech foreign minister says
Hungary and Slovakia have confirmed that if Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline resume, both countries will support the €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine and the 20th package of sanctions against Russia.
Source: Dennik N, an independent Slovak news outlet, citing Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, as reported by European Pravda
Details: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier that Ukraine has completed repairs to the section of the Druzhba pipeline damaged in a Russian strike and the pipeline can reopen.
Russian oil has not flowed through the Druzhba pipeline since the end of January, prompting Hungary to block the EU loan for Ukraine. Budapest and Bratislava also blocked the approval of the EU's latest package of sanctions against Russia.
Quote from Macinka: "Both countries, which have taken a somewhat reserved position on these two issues, have made this conditional on the start of oil supplies to their countries. So if this is confirmed and supplies resume, this obstacle will disappear."
Background:
- On 21 April, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said a decision on the EU's €90 billion loan for Ukraine will be taken within the next 24 hours.
- On 19 April, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Ukraine is willing to resume oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline on Monday 20 April on condition that Budapest unblocks the EU loan.
- The EU plans to provide Ukraine with the first tranche of the €90 billion loan in late May or early June 2026.
- To complete the technical preparations for providing Ukraine with the €90 billion loan in 2026-2027, the EU must approve three key documents in addition to the amendments to the EU's long-term budget which have been blocked by Hungary.
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