Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urges the EU to overcome Hungary’s veto on a crucial €90 billion loan during a visit to Madrid.

MADRID: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the European Union to overcome a Hungarian veto and unlock a vital €90 billion loan for his country.

Zelensky made the appeal during a visit to Madrid where he met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez ahead of a crucial EU summit in Brussels.

He described the blocked financial package as the main issue for the upcoming summit, expressing hope that member states would find a way to resolve the impasse.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been blocking the EU loan partly over the closure of a key Russian oil pipeline that runs through Ukraine.

Ukraine maintains the Druzhba pipeline was damaged by Russian strikes in January, with the EU offering to send experts to help repair the conduit.

Zelensky, who previously labelled Hungary’s position as blackmail, stated it was unfair for the previously agreed loan to be held up.

He expressed confidence that appropriate arguments would be found to have the financial support unblocked.

The Ukrainian leader’s visit to Spain followed a stop in London, part of Kyiv’s effort to keep the war against Russia a priority for European capitals.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez assured Zelensky that Spain would not forget the conflict in Ukraine, pledging continued support.

Sanchez announced a bilateral support plan worth one billion euros for 2026 and highlighted new defence industry cooperation between the two nations.

Ministers from both countries signed several cooperation accords across various sectors during the visit.

This marked Zelensky’s fourth visit to Spain since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The Ukrainian president was also scheduled to meet with Spain’s King Felipe VI later in the day.

 The Sun Malaysia