“We believe this coincides with other commitments by European Union member states, particularly Hungary, which has blocked certain decisions that are important to us,” he added in reference to the loan.
The Druzhba pipeline carrying Russian oil through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia has been at the center of a spat between the European Union and Hungary. After it was damaged during a drone attack in January, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán retracted his support for the €90 billion loan that Kyiv needs to sustain its war effort as Russia’s full-scale invasion enters its fifth year.
But Hungarian Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar’s landslide victory last weekend stemmed European leaders’ optimism about a quick turnaround in Budapest — with Magyar himself indicating Monday he’s ready to lift Budapest’s blockade.
“We also want to quickly get the EU loan for Ukraine — agreed upon in December — up and running,” Merz said about the money. “The funds for military aid must be disbursed quickly now. Ukraine needs them urgently.”
Merz and Zelenskyy met in Berlin with key ministers from both governments for their first government consultations in over 20 years, sealing several agreements, including on jointly developing new weapons systems and becoming less dependent on U.S. deliveries.