A €90 billion loan for Ukraine from the EU: when will Ukraine receive the first funds?
19 March 18:30
The European Union may begin disbursing funds to Ukraine under the €90 billion loan as early as the beginning of April. Hungary is still blocking the process. This was reported by [Komersant], citing the European Council’s press service.
During the EU summit, leaders welcomed the legislative approval of the €90 billion loan for Ukraine, but did not specify a clear deadline for the disbursement of the first tranche.
“Following its decision in December 2025 to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion support loan for 2026 and 2027, the European Council welcomes the adoption of this loan by the co-legislators and looks forward to the first disbursement to Ukraine in early April,” the European Council’s communiqué states.
Hungary and Slovakia did not support the final conclusions of the European Union summit regarding Ukraine. The document notes that the statement was supported by 25 of the 27 heads of state.
Hungary’s veto
As a reminder, EU leaders approved a €90 billion loan for Ukraine for 2026–2027 back in December of last year.
In order for Ukraine to begin receiving the funds, EU countries needed to approve several procedural decisions.
After Russia struck the Druzhba oil pipeline and the transit of Russian oil through Ukrainian territory was halted, Hungary began blocking all EU initiatives related to aid for Ukraine. Among other things, it blocked one of the procedural decisions required to grant the loan.
A few days ago, Ukraine agreed to have the pipeline repaired at the EU’s expense. But Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was not satisfied with this. He warned that until Russian oil begins flowing to Hungary again via “Druzhba,” Budapest will continue to block the loan for Ukraine.
