EU Leaders Face Long Road Ahead After €90B Ukraine Loan
At Ayia Napa, EU leaders sealed a €90 billion loan to Ukraine but kicked off a broader, tougher agenda: deciding when and how Kyiv should join the EU, boosting defense cooperation (including Article 42.7) amid Middle East tensions, and shaping a massive seven-year budget. Disagreements linger over Ukraine’s membership timeline, with some leaders pushing for faster integration and others warning it may take years, while Orbán’s exit has unsettled the unity on Ukraine policy. The summit also touched on Iran-related risks and energy prices, signaling the EU’s challenges extend far beyond Kyiv.