Finance
EU Will Find Ways to Get Loan to Ukraine, Von Der Leyen Says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 20, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 20, 2026
Quick Summary
EU leaders reaffirm commitment to deliver the €90 billion loan to Ukraine despite Hungary’s veto, as officials explore legal and budgetary alternatives.
EU to Find Solutions for €90 Billion Loan to Ukraine Despite Hungary's Blockade
EU Leaders Seek Alternatives Amid Hungary's Veto
BRUSSELS, March 20 (Reuters) - The EU will find ways to pay out the promised 90 billion euro ($104.2 billion) loan to Ukraine despite Hungary's ongoing resistance, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said early on Friday.
EU Commission's Commitment
"We will deliver one way or the other," von der Leyen told reporters after a summit in Brussels, where EU leaders failed to convince Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to lift his blockade on the vital EU loan to Ukraine.
Reactions from EU Leaders
Condemnation of Hungary's Blockade
EU leaders had condemned the "unacceptable" resistance by Hungary during their meeting, EU Council President Antonio Costa said.
Statement from EU Council President
"A deal is a deal, we need to honour our word. And no one can blackmail the European Council," Costa said.
German Chancellor's Response
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the European Commission had been asked by leaders to find ways to pay out the loan, and called Orban's veto an unprecedented "act of serious disloyalty".
Concerns Over EU Unity
"This will leave its mark," he said. "This is a serious violation of the principle of loyalty of the member states amongst each other, and it damages the standing of the European Union."
Additional Information
($1 = 0.8636 euros)
(Reporting by Andreas Rinke and Bart Meijer; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Stephn Coates)
Key Takeaways
- •Hungary is blocking the €90 billion Ukraine loan over oil transit dispute via Druzhba pipeline, prompting strong rebukes from EU leaders.
- •The European Commission is exploring fallback mechanisms—such as invoking Article 327 and using EU budget-backed borrowing—to bypass Hungary’s veto.
- •EU unity is tested, with calls mounting to reform unanimity rules or deploy enhanced cooperation to uphold commitments.
Frequently Asked Questions about EU will find ways to get loan to Ukraine, von der Leyen says
1Why is the EU loan to Ukraine being blocked?
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has vetoed the EU's €90 billion loan to Ukraine, blocking the payment.
2What is the EU's response to Hungary's resistance?
EU leaders condemned Hungary's blockade and asked the European Commission to find alternative ways to deliver the loan.
3What did Ursula von der Leyen say about the loan to Ukraine?
Von der Leyen stated the EU would deliver the promised loan to Ukraine 'one way or the other,' despite Hungary's resistance.
4How much is the EU promising to loan Ukraine?
The EU has promised a €90 billion (about $104.2 billion) loan to support Ukraine.
5What are the concerns among EU leaders regarding the veto?
EU leaders described the veto as an unprecedented act of disloyalty that damages the standing of the European Union.
