On Tuesday 21 April, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, expressed her optimism that the amendment to the multiannual financial framework allowing disbursement of the €90 billion loan would be adopted. The Member States’ ambassadors to the EU could give their approval on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the Druzhba pipeline had been repaired and was ready to resume supplies.
“Following Hungarian elections, there is a new momentum and I expect a positive decision on the €90 billion loan in the next 24 hours”, explained the High Representative, adding that “Ukraine absolutely needs this loan, and it is also a sign that Russia cannot prevail over Ukraine indefinitely. This is extremely important at the moment”.
“Hungary has always indicated that, as soon as oil was flowing through the pipeline again, it would be prepared to lift the veto on the €90 billion loan. If all goes well, we have signals that this could happen this week. And if this is the case, I hope that measures can be taken immediately”, stressed the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tom Berendsen.
“We must release the 90 billion support loan. It is therefore important that we act quickly and that the Ukrainians receive the first payment as early as next month”, added the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys.
The first payments could be made “at the end of May or beginning of June”, according to the European Commissioner for the Economy, Valdis Dombrovskis. “The Ukrainian authorities have confirmed to us that they are able to wait” until that date, he told AFP.
In addition to the loan, Ms Kallas announced that proposals to restrict former Russian combatants’ entry into the European Union will be made by June (see EUROPE 13828/10).
Finally, pointing out that Russia “bombs museums, destroys churches and seeks to erase Ukrainian culture”, the High Representative said that Russia’s return to the Venice Biennale was “morally wrong”, and warned that the EU intended to cut its funding. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)