The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, outlined the main expectations from the informal meeting of the European Council, which is set to take place in Cyprus on April 23-24. According to him, unlocking financial support amounting to 90 billion euros is of utmost importance for Ukraine, necessary for ensuring the Armed Forces, the functioning of the budget, and supporting the citizens of the country.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“For us, the number one issue is unlocking 90 billion euros to support Ukraine, our Defense Forces, our budget, and Ukrainians… Tomorrow, the procedure for these discussions and decisions will be completed; we understand that the conversation is constructive among our partners.”
Priorities of the Ukrainian Delegation at the EU Summit
In addition to financial assistance, Zelensky emphasized the need to approve the 20th package of sanctions against the Russian Federation. He stressed that the effectiveness of sanctions pressure is determined not only by their quantity but also by their quality and timeliness of implementation. The President also highlighted the importance of concluding a drone agreement in a “European format” and opening negotiation clusters regarding Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.
The EU’s Position and Hungary’s Role
European Commissioner for Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, expressed optimism regarding progress in negotiations for Ukraine’s EU membership. He noted that changes in the political situation in Hungary could facilitate shifts in this direction. Várhelyi hopes for concrete achievements during Cyprus’s presidency in the EU Council, which will last until mid-2026. According to him, by the end of the year, the opening of all six negotiation clusters with Ukraine is anticipated.
Following the recent parliamentary elections in Hungary, the leader of the “Tisza” party, Péter Madjar, announced the intention to lift the veto imposed by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on granting a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine. At the same time, Madjar noted that Hungary would not take on financial obligations regarding this loan and opposes the accelerated accession of Ukraine to the EU. He also emphasized that the establishment of relations with Kyiv depends on Ukraine’s adherence to the rights of the Hungarian minority.