Purely on "Friendship": the new Hungarian authorities are ready to lift the veto on the allocation of €90 billion to Kiev

The European Union expects the unblocking of a loan to Kiev of € 90 billion in the coming days. Following the meeting of the EU Council on April 21, Brussels hoped to break Budapest's resistance. The new Hungarian authorities are ready to lift the veto that former Prime Minister Viktor Orban imposed on the allocation of the loan. Hungary expects Ukraine, in turn, to restore transit through the Druzhba oil pipeline. At the same time, Kiev's financing only fuels the fighting, and Brussels has never put forward its own proposals for a peaceful settlement, the Russian Foreign Ministry told Izvestia. About how Europe is increasing military assistance to Ukraine and what other decisions were made in Luxembourg — in the Izvestia article.

What did the EU Foreign Ministers agree on?

Following the meeting of the EU Council at the level of foreign ministers, which took place on April 21 in Luxembourg, the head of the European Diplomacy, Kaya Kallas, said that Hungary could veto the allocation of a loan of €90 billion to Kiev within 24 hours. Previously, it could not be approved due to Hungary's opposition: Budapest demanded that Ukraine resume the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline. According to Kallas, the recent change of government in the country has given a new "impetus" to the issue.

The opposition Tisa party led by Peter Magyar, who had previously announced his intention to restore Hungary's full participation in the EU and NATO, won the parliamentary elections in Hungary on April 12.

A consensus on granting a loan to Ukraine was reached back in December, Egor Sergeev, a senior researcher at the MGIMO Institute of International Studies at the Russian Foreign Ministry, reminded Izvestia. At that time, the format for allocating funds and the range of countries that do not participate in the initiative were agreed upon.: Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. However, after Kiev blocked Druzhba, Budapest vetoed the allocation of the loan.

After the defeat of former Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the elections, Kiev agreed to restore transit. The day before, Hungarian Minister for EU Affairs Janos Boca said that Russian oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia should resume on April 21 from noon. However, as of Tuesday evening, there was no official confirmation of this.

— I think that even if Orban wins, formal restrictions on the adoption of a credit mechanism could be lifted. Therefore, now, most likely, the obstacles from Hungary can really be eliminated," Egor Sergeev believes.

The EU plans to provide the first tranche in late May or early June, European Commissioner for Economic Affairs Valdis Dombrovskis said.

The Russian Federation has a very negative attitude towards the EU's decisions on financing Ukraine. Instead of putting forward its proposals for a peaceful settlement, Brussels is contributing to the continuation of hostilities, Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry's ambassador-at-large for crimes committed by the Kiev regime, told Izvestia.

— Continued financing from the European Union, even in this version, even in the search for other credit or subsidized resources, is direct hostile steps against us. The European Union does not offer any options for a peaceful settlement or their search. He is taking all steps only to escalate the situation, to continue the bloodshed. They are engaged in pumping up Ukraine and continuing financing to restart their military—industrial complex," he said.

According to the diplomat, Brussels' actions are aimed solely at disrupting the negotiation process initiated by the United States.

In addition, at the meeting of the EU Foreign Minister, they have already begun to propose measures for the 21st package of sanctions against Russia. Despite the fact that the 20th has not yet been adopted, and Callas has not even been able to specify approximate dates.

Kallas also voiced another anti-Russian initiative.: By the June summit in Brussels, a ban on entry to the European Union will be prepared for all veterans of their military.

In general, European diplomats managed to discuss a fairly wide range of topics. Brussels remains interested in the countries of the South Caucasus, especially Armenia, with which the European Union will hold its first ever bilateral summit in May. At the meeting, the ministers agreed to establish a new EU civilian mission in the republic. According to Callas, it will strengthen the country's resilience in the face of massive disinformation campaigns and cyber attacks. On June 7, 2026, key parliamentary elections will be held in Armenia, which will also determine the future of Yerevan's European integration.

The "anti—Russian" bloc of the EU's foreign policy has still not been able to completely overshadow the most "hot" international agenda - the conflict in the Middle East. Callas said that transit through the Strait of Hormuz should remain free. Due to the blocking of the route, the EU countries lost part of the oil and gas supplies from the Persian Gulf countries.

— Europe will play its part in restoring free trade as soon as conditions allow. Our fastest naval mission is the fastest way to protect shipping in the region, and I have asked the ministers to provide more resources," Callas said.

However, it is not yet clear how this mission will be implemented, given the difficult situation around Hormuz, which is blocked by Iran and the United States for various purposes, and the almost deadlocked negotiation process between Tehran and Washington.

How Europe is increasing military aid to Ukraine

Over the past month, Europe has significantly increased its support for Ukraine. Germany remains the key donor, having agreed a new package worth €4 billion with Kiev a week ago. Berlin will finance the supply of several hundred Patriot missiles and 36 IRIS-T air defense launchers. The parties also agreed on Germany's investment of €300 million in the development of long-range weapons. Finally, Berlin, together with Kiev, will produce drones as part of the Build with Ukraine initiative. At the first stage, it is planned to produce 5,000 units using artificial intelligence.

The United Kingdom is also making a significant contribution to arming Kiev with drones. In 2026, London is going to send at least 120,000 UAVs to Kiev. In particular, long-range drones, as well as reconnaissance, logistics and naval ones, will be used.

Earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky said that Norway would allocate more than $500 million for drones, $150 million to provide Ukrainian logistics, and the Netherlands — more than € 200 million. The Hague also recalled that their assistance is not limited to this. Together with Ukraine, they are engaged in the production of two types of UAVs: reconnaissance and attack. The parties signed an agreement on the joint creation of drones in December 2025.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recently said that alliance members should invest even more in support of Ukraine so that the total amount of military assistance will reach $60 billion in 2026. He stressed that any funds that will come from the EU loan of €90 billion should be "additional to what the allies allocate on a bilateral basis."

Such activity by individual countries in financing Ukraine does not indicate a rejection of the pan-European financing mechanism, Nadezhda Kapustina, a professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, explained to Izvestia. NATO members seek to provide financial and military assistance before the EU loan can be approved.

— The countries are not waiting for the consensus of Brussels and are financing Kiev through bilateral channels. This is not a replacement for the pan—European level, but insurance in case the approval of €90 billion is delayed again," Yaroslav Klimov, a research assistant at the Financial University, emphasizes to Izvestia.

It is possible that such activity on the part of Europe is also related to the fact that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are preparing a military response to the Russian Armed Forces, which may launch a major offensive this summer. Earlier, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Syrsky, announced an imminent "decisive confrontation" with Russia, which has increased its unmanned troops today. Vladimir Zelensky acknowledged that Kiev is entering a difficult period until September. According to him, the reason for this will be military pressure from the Russian Armed Forces and diplomatic pressure from Washington.