{"id":89530,"date":"2026-04-22T17:32:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T17:32:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/2026\/04\/22\/eu-moves-to-unlock-90-billion-ukraine-debt-as-russian-oil-flows-to-hungary-slovakia-worthy-news-in-depth\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T17:37:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T17:37:42","slug":"eu-moves-to-unlock-90-billion-ukraine-debt-as-russian-oil-flows-to-hungary-slovakia-worthy-news-in-depth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/2026\/04\/22\/eu-moves-to-unlock-90-billion-ukraine-debt-as-russian-oil-flows-to-hungary-slovakia-worthy-news-in-depth\/","title":{"rendered":"EU moves to unlock $90 billion Ukraine debt as Russian oil flows to Hungary, Slovakia (Worthy News In-depth)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"EUStephen J. By Bose, Worth News Europe Bureau Chief<\/p>\n

Brussels\/Kyiv\/Budapest (meaningful news<\/a>) \u2013 The European Union moved on Wednesday to extend a 90 billion euro (about $106 billion) loan to Kiev after officials said Russian oil was again flowing to Hungary and Slovakia after months of disruption linked to the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Hungarian oil and natural gas giant MOL confirmed that Ukraine had resumed deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline (“Friendship”) shortly after noon local time.<\/p>\n

The pipeline was damaged in January amid fighting between Ukraine and Russia, halting supplies for months.<\/p>\n

MOL said the first shipments were expected to arrive in Hungary and Slovakia by Thursday.<\/p>\n

The restart enabled EU countries to move towards approving a major financial package for Kiev.<\/p>\n

EU loan nears approval<\/strong><\/p>\n

Diplomats said the loan received initial support from all 27 member states on Wednesday after months of delays linked to Hungary’s veto.<\/p>\n

The Cyprus EU president indicated that final approval was expected on Thursday.<\/p>\n

The loan is intended to support Ukraine’s immediate economic and military needs as it continues to defend itself against a full-scale invasion by Russia.<\/p>\n

The decision was taken after Kiev announced that the Druzhba pipeline had resumed deliveries of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia.<\/p>\n

Both countries had previously suggested they could freeze the loan if supplies were not restored.<\/p>\n

Pipeline dispute continues<\/strong><\/p>\n

Outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n and the Slovak government accused Ukraine of delaying repairs for political reasons, a charge denied by Kyiv.<\/p>\n

Loan prospects improved after Orban’s defeat in Hungary’s April elections.<\/p>\n

Peter Magyar, leader of the winning Tisza party, indicated that he would not oppose the package once in office.<\/p>\n

Magyar had previously urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to reopen the pipeline, saying: “This is not a game.”<\/p>\n

He said: “It’s like a dinner invitation \u2013 I accept it, and then I start blackmailing him, that if it’s not lecho, I’ll do this and that.”<\/p>\n

Druzhba remains the main route<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Druzhba pipeline remains one of the major routes for Russian oil exports to parts of Central and Eastern Europe.<\/p>\n

The disruption highlighted the region’s continued dependence on Russian energy despite EU efforts to diversify supplies.<\/p>\n

The resumption of flows appears to have helped unlock broader political and financial agreements within the bloc.<\/p>\n

EU countries also agreed to a 20th package of sanctions against Russia, which had been delayed due to a dispute with Hungary.<\/p>\n

These measures are intended to weaken Russia’s economy and limit its ability to finance the war.<\/p>\n

EU supported Ukraine<\/strong><\/p>\n

The EU had initially hoped to adopt the sanctions package early this year to mark the anniversary of the invasion.<\/p>\n

Zelensky welcomed the development, calling it “the right sign in the current circumstances”.<\/p>\n

He said Russia would have an incentive to end the war only if both support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia were sufficient.<\/p>\n

The Ukrainian leader said Kiev was fulfilling its obligations to the EU, including on sensitive issues such as the operation of the Druzhba pipeline.<\/p>\n

He stressed that it is important that the aid package is “rolled out rapidly.”<\/p>\n

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