EU chief vows to deliver €90bil Ukraine loan

EU chief vows to deliver €90bil Ukraine loan

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is stalling both the loan and a fresh round of sanctions on Russia until Kyiv re-opens a key oil pipeline.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shakes hands with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/EPA Images pic)
KYIV:
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday the bloc would make good on a multi-billion-euro loan for Ukraine despite Hungary, a  Kremlin-friendly member of the bloc, vetoing the measure.

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban is stalling both the 90-billion-euro (US$106-billion) loan as well as a fresh round of sanctions on Russia until Kyiv re-opens a key oil pipeline.

Ukraine says the Druzhba pipeline, which crosses its territory to deliver Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary, was damaged January 27 by Russian strikes.

“Let me be crystal clear … the loan was agreed by 27 heads of state and government in the European Council. They have given their word. This word cannot be broken,” von der Leyen said.

“We will deliver on the loan one way or the other. Let me be very clear. We have different options, and we will use them,” she said at a press conference in Kyiv with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky marking the four-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

Zelensky said that Russia had been responsible for the destruction of the pipeline and that even after it is fixed, Moscow forces were likely to strike it again.

He urged Orban to directly negotiate with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to halt strikes on the facility or agree on an “energy ceasefire” with Russia.

Von der Leyen meanwhile called for the repairs on the Druzhba pipeline to be “accelerated” following the Russian attacks.

Ukraine’s relations with neighbouring Hungary have been strained by Orban’s political support for Russia and have deteriorated further in recent weeks as the veteran leader has ramped up attacks on Ukraine ahead of a closely fought parliamentary election in April.

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