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EU Cyprus Summit Pushes Budget Cuts, Ukraine Timeline Sought

4/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

Leaders met in Ayia Napa, Cyprus on April 24-25, 2026 without Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, noting a lighter atmosphere.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten and German politician Friedrich Merz urged cutting the EU’s €1.8 trillion budget, citing Hungary’s vetoes on a €90 billion Ukraine loan and a Russia sanctions package were lifted.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demanded a timetable for full EU membership as Croatia’s Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic called rapid entry unrealistic.

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Story summary

Leaders met in Ayia Napa, Cyprus on April 24-25, 2026 without Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, noting a lighter atmosphere.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten and German politician Friedrich Merz urged cutting the EU’s €1.8 trillion budget, citing Hungary’s vetoes on a €90 billion Ukraine loan and a Russia sanctions package were lifted.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demanded a timetable for full EU membership as Croatia’s Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic called rapid entry unrealistic.