The EU has launched the final procedure for the €90 billion package for Kyiv: what this means and when a decision might be made
21 April 05:57
The European Union has taken a decisive step toward providing Ukraine with €90 billion in financial support by initiating the final legal procedure for approving the loan. As DW notes, the funding is nearing final approval, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
The issue is on the agenda of the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of EU member states, scheduled for April 22. During the meeting, an amendment to the EU’s multiannual budget is to be approved—this is the final technical step required to implement the funding.
According to published data, this item has been added to the agenda without further discussion, which usually indicates prior agreement among member states. If approved, the procedure will conclude with written approval of the document, after which the decision will take effect.
What is happening now
The final stage involves approving amendments to the EU’s multiannual budget that will enable the implementation of a loan scheme for Ukraine. According to reports from Reuters and European sources, the issue has already moved from political disputes to the practical implementation of the decision.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos stated on April 16 that the European Union will provide Ukraine with a €90 billion loan, and that the delay caused by Hungary’s political opposition has effectively been resolved.
The very fact that the issue was brought to the Coreper level without discussion is significant, as in European practice this often means that the main political objections have already been resolved, and member states are ready to proceed to the formal approval of the document.
Why this loan is important for Ukraine
For Kyiv, the €90 billion package is critically important, as it is intended to finance wartime needs and cover a significant portion of the budget shortfall. Reuters previously reported that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called this package vital amid a “very difficult” financial situation.
It is precisely thanks to the support of its partners that Ukraine expects to cover a significant portion of its financial needs in 2026. At the same time, the EU views this instrument as part of a broader long-term strategy to support Ukraine in 2026–2027.
Why the process was previously stalled
The main obstacle to advancing the decision was Hungary’s position. In March, Reuters reported that then-Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was blocking the loan, linking it to the issue of resuming operations of the Druzhba oil pipeline. Because of this, EU leaders were unable to convince Budapest to unblock the package immediately.
The situation began to change following political shifts in Hungary. Reuters reported that Orbán’s election defeat paved the way for the package to be unblocked for Ukraine, and the new political landscape in Budapest reduced the level of confrontation with Brussels on this issue.
How this is linked to the Druzhba pipeline
In recent weeks, the issue of the loan for Ukraine has been directly linked to the resumption of operations on the Druzhba oil pipeline, through which Russian oil is supplied to Hungary and Slovakia. Reuters and Bloomberg reported that the repair of the damaged section and the resumption of supplies were among the conditions for softening the Hungarian side’s position.
Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with preparations for the launch, reports that Ukraine plans to resume oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline as early as Tuesday, April 21, following technical tests of the damaged section.
Technical tests of the damaged section are to take place beforehand. This involves resuming operations on the route through which Russian oil was delivered to Hungary and Slovakia.
In an interview during the “Yedyny Novyny” telethon, Zelenskyy addressed the issue of the Druzhba pipeline, which, in his words, remains a sensitive matter.
“I know there is a painful issue for us—the Druzhba oil pipeline. When will it start operating? It will be ready to operate by the end of April. I know my position: I do not support the sale of Russian oil,” he noted.
Thus, the energy issue has effectively become part of a major political compromise: Ukraine is restoring the operation of critical infrastructure, while the EU is moving toward unblocking funding.
What happens after the Coreper meeting
If the decision is supported at the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives, the next step will be the written approval of the relevant document. After that, the decision will take effect, and the European Union will be able to proceed with the practical implementation of the credit mechanism for Ukraine. This procedure follows the standard logic for formalizing budgetary and legal decisions within EU structures.
In other words, this is no longer about the start of political negotiations, but about the final phase of formalization. That is why the current stage can be described as the closest to the actual launch of the package in the entire history of the discussions.
What this means for Kyiv and Brussels
For Ukraine, the advancement of the €90 billion package means greater financial predictability amid the war. For Brussels, it is a test of the EU’s ability to make major strategic decisions even after prolonged internal disputes. In practice, this represents one of the strongest financial signals of support for Kyiv from the European Union in 2026.
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