Story perspectives

EU Approves €90bn Ukraine Loan, Lifts Hungary Veto

4/23/2026

Summary

EU Grants Loan

Leaders approved a €90 billion loan for Ukraine and a 20th sanctions package on Russia.
Hungary lifted its veto after pipeline dispute was settled, letting Russian crude flow to Slovakia Thursday.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the deals and noted EU spent €24 billion on fossil-fuel imports since February.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend a dinner in Cyprus and said the funds will support arms production and protection.

Summary

Flynn Lobbies Pipeline

AAFS, led by Jesse Binnall and Joe Flynn (Michael Flynn’s brother), proposed a $1.5 billion investment; Michael Flynn lobbied for Milorad Dodik, whose sanctions relief matched pipeline support.
EU envoy Luigi Soreca warned that Bosnia must align its pipeline law with Brussels; Transparency International called the AAFS contract without a tender a precedent.
The pipeline would link Bosnia to a Croatian LNG terminal, aiding a 2028 deadline to end Russian imports.

History

Historical Context

Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 heightened tensions, leading the EU to impose sanctions on Moscow. By February 2022, EU countries had spent €24 billion on Russian fossil fuels, revealing their energy dependency. The recent €90 billion loan for Ukraine aims to strengthen its defense against ongoing aggression, while Hungary's lifted veto on Russian crude highlights the complex interplay of energy politics within the EU.

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EU Grants Loan

Leaders approved a €90 billion loan for Ukraine and a 20th sanctions package on Russia.
Hungary lifted its veto after pipeline dispute was settled, letting Russian crude flow to Slovakia Thursday.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the deals and noted EU spent €24 billion on fossil-fuel imports since February.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend a dinner in Cyprus and said the funds will support arms production and protection.

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