EU approves major Ukraine aid and new Russia sanctions after resolving internal disputes, strengthening Kyiv’s position and increasing pressure on Moscow amid ongoing war.
EU approves $105 billion Ukraine loan and new Russia sanctions after deadlock ends. The European Union on Thursday, April 23, 2026, granted final approval to a €90 billion ($105 billion) loan for Ukraine and endorsed a new round of sanctions against Russia, marking a significant shift after weeks of internal disagreements among member states.
The decision followed a breakthrough when Hungary and Slovakia lifted their objections after Ukraine restored oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline. The resumption of transit resolved a dispute that had stalled financial assistance at a critical stage in the conflict, allowing Brussels to move forward with support measures aimed at stabilizing Ukraine’s economy.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the resolution of the impasse underscored growing pressure on Russia’s war economy while reinforcing Ukraine’s financial position. The delay had come at a time when the United States reduced its support for Kyiv and eased certain restrictions on Russian oil exports, increasing Ukraine’s dependence on European backing.
Hungary’s outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had previously blocked the loan, leveraging Ukraine’s oil transit through the pipeline that supplies his landlocked country. His stance shifted following electoral setbacks, enabling consensus within the EU.
With approval secured, the European Union is expected to begin disbursing funds in the coming months, addressing widening budget gaps in Ukraine nearly four years into Russia’s invasion. Simultaneously, the bloc’s 27 member states finalized their 20th sanctions package against Russia, targeting energy, banking, and trade sectors.
The measures include tighter controls on Russia’s “shadow fleet” of aging oil tankers and new restrictions on cryptocurrency traders to limit alternative financial channels. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the war had entered its most stable phase in nearly a year, while cautioning that significant challenges remain for Ukrainian forces.
