2026-04-23 18:40, updated 2026-04-23 19:52
publication
2026-04-23 18:40
update
2026-04-23 19:52
The Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, announced on Thursday after their meeting with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, that they expect the first disbursement of funds from the EUR 90 billion loan for this country in the second quarter of this year.
Von der Leyen, Costa and Zelensky met in Nicosia, Cyprus, before an informal meeting of EU heads of state and government and a few hours after EU countries unanimously agreed to release a EUR 90 billion loan to Ukraine and adopt the 20th package of sanctions against Russia. Both of these issues were previously blocked by the government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
– This is a fundamental and unanimous decision – Zelensky said after the meeting at a joint press conference with the presidents of the European Commission and the Council. As he emphasized, these funds will help Ukraine strengthen its armed and training forces, as well as increase air defense production and take measures to protect its energy infrastructure before the next winter.
The three politicians emphasized in a joint statement that it is now important to quickly implement the loan. The head of the European Commission recalled that in February, after Orban blocked the funds, she promised Zelensky that the EU would unblock the loan “in one way or another.” – Today we kept our promise – she commented.
Von der Leyen assured that most of the preparatory work for the implementation of the loan has already been completed and it is possible that the first tranche, amounting to EUR 45 billion and intended for 2026, will be paid to Kiev in the second quarter of the year, in May or June.
– We agreed that one third of the loan will be allocated to budget funds and two thirds to defense – she said. She added that Ukraine will first invest in the production of drones.
– Today we also agreed on the 20th package of sanctions (on Russia – PAP). It's a good day, she said.
Costa added that the EU should now look to the future and prepare for the next step, which is opening negotiation clusters and starting the first stage of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU.
Shortly before the 40th anniversary of the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant this weekend, politicians also recalled the importance of nuclear safety and called on Russia to stop attacks and occupation of nuclear facilities in Ukraine.
Zelensky: The decision to grant Ukraine EUR 90 billion in support is historic
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday during the EU summit in Cyprus that the EU's decision to grant his country a loan of EUR 90 billion is historic. He emphasized that this is not only a matter of financing, but above all the key to Ukraine's security and survival.
The leader of the Ukrainian state emphasized that this support has an existential dimension after a difficult winter, during which the Ukrainian energy sector was the target of massive missile and drone attacks from Russia.
– It is also about survival – he said, adding that part of the EU loan will be allocated to preparing the national infrastructure for next winter.
According to Zelensky, unblocking the funds sends a clear signal to the Kremlin that Ukraine has military potential, which “forces Russia to think more seriously about negotiations (to end the war – PAP).”
In the context of defense, he spoke about the need to build an independent, European anti-ballistic system, although at the same time he emphasized the importance of partnership with the USA.
– We need our European, independent, strong system (…) and we will build it – he said. He declared that Ukraine wants to share its experiences in this area.
On the issue of Ukraine's European integration, Zelensky emphasized the country's full readiness to open negotiation clusters and expressed hope for joining the EU as soon as possible.
From Nicosia Łukasz Osiński (PAP)
From Brussels Jowita Kiwnik Pargana (PAP)
jowi/ akl/
