EU close to signing off on critical €90bn loan for Ukraine after months of vetoing from Hungary – Europe live

After four months of very public disagreements between Ukraine and Hungary, today could be the day when the EU finally signs off (for the second time) on the critical €90bn loan for Kyiv.

The Druzhba oil pipeline between Hungary and Russia is seen at the Hungarian MOL Group's Danube Refinery in Szazhalombatta, Hungary Photograph: Bernadett Szabó/Reuters

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed yesterday that the Druzhba pipeline, carrying Russian oil imports to Hungary and Slovakia, has been repaired and is ready to be used again. EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said yesterday she expected “a positive decision” within the next 24 hours.

Ambassadors from the 27 member states are meeting this morning to discuss the disbursement of the loan, which has been held up until now by Hungary’s outgoing prime minister, Viktor Orbán.

The loan had been originally agreed at the European Council in December, but after the pipeline was struck by a Russian missile and damaged, causing the oil flows to stop, Hungary decided to block the payments until deliveries are restored.

For all we know, the oil is not quite flowing yet, but it could flow any time now, so it’s just a matter of both sides agreeing to move on this issue. Crucially, the incoming Hungarian government of Péter Magyar has maintained the view the previous administration’s stance: deliveries must restart before Hungary will agree to the payout.

The payment could not come early enough for Ukraine as the country urgently needs that money to fund its continuing defence against Russia. Zelenskyy spoke about his priorities with several EU leaders last night.

I will bring you the key lines when we have more on this.

Separately, EU energy commissioner Dan Jørgensen is expected to give his take on how Europe could be affected by the Middle East crisis today. I will bring you his words when he speaks later this morning.