… and so on that note, it’s a wrap for today!
The European Union is in the process of formally approving a €90bn loan for Ukraine after the restart of the Druzhba pipeline and reports that Hungary has dropped its longstanding veto (15:16), finally clearing the way for the funds to be disbursed (13:14, 15:45).
The formal written procedure for voting on the loan is due to be completed by Thursday afternoon, just as EU leaders are expected to meet in Cyprus (13:28).
The process should be a mere formality at this stage (17:21).
The Hungarian oil giant MOL reported earlier that its Ukrainian counterpart started receiving crude oil form Belarus around midday, with first deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia expected tomorrow (10:03, 10:40, 12:27).
Slovakia’s prime minister Robert Fico warned Ukraine against any attempts to disrupt the flow of Russian oil once the money is approved (12:02).
Meanwhile,
Russia has confirmed plans to suspend the shipment of Kazakh oil to Germany from 1 May, citing “technical reasons” (14:38, 15:09,
The EU will cut electricity taxes and provide consumers with fresh incentives to ditch fuel-burning cars and boilers, the European Commission has announced, as the energy crisis from the Iran war speeds a shift to a clean economy.
British holidaymakers face new rules when taking their pet into the EU involving paperwork costing up to £200 (16:15).
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
Meanwhile, the Hungarian government has confirmed to Hungarian media outlet Telex that it “has agreed to the adoption … by written procedure,” which seems to imply there will no be last minute surprises and the process should be a mere formality then.
Technically, the outgoing prime minister Viktor Orbán said earlier this week that “once oil deliveries are restored, we will no longer stand in the way of approving the loan,” and they appeared to be (in the process of being) restored this afternoon, so…
Let’s see.
Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, and all that.
Updated
EU plans to cut electricity taxes to shield households from Iran war energy crisis
European environment correspondent
The EU will cut electricity taxes and provide consumers with fresh incentives to ditch fuel-burning cars and boilers, the European Commission has announced, as the energy crisis from the Iran war speeds a shift to a clean economy.
The plan, which foresees tweaking rules so that electricity is taxed less than oil and gas, aims to bring down bills while encouraging the move away from polluting devices that prolong reliance on foreign fuels.
The commission said it would adopt temporary state aid rules to allow member countries to directly shield consumers and businesses from high energy prices, but it warned that any support must be “targeted, timely and temporary”.
It stopped short of measures introduced after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, such as a windfall tax on oil and gas companies, which five EU finance ministers had called for earlier this month. The commission also ruled out a cap on gas prices, which energy experts had warned would be counterproductive.
“By investing in clean energy and electrification, we unlock more money for our economy,” said Dan Jørgensen, the energy and housing commissioner. “In the future, instead of buying something and burning it to get energy and buying it again, we need to produce our own homegrown clean energy.”
Earlier today, we brought you some of the key lines from the European Commission’s briefing on its plans on how to respond to the Middle East oil crisis and potential knock on effects on European households (11:30, 11:54, 11:56, 12:16).
So, let’s bring you the full story from our European environment correspondent, Ajit Niranjan
New pet travel rules cause headache for UK residents planning holidays in Europe
British holidaymakers face new rules when taking their pet into the EU involving paperwork costing up to £200.
Brussels closed a loophole which saw some British pet owners travel on an EU pet passport, which is issued for the life of the animal.
From 22 April, these EU passports will no longer be valid for owners who live full-time in the UK.
Guidance on the UK government website say old EU passports “may no longer be valid” for entry to the continental EU.
In future, they will need to get an animal health certificate for the cat, dog or ferret which can cost up to £200.
To add to the cost for British travellers, the AHC is only valid for one trip, although it can be used for up to six months within the EU and for re-entering GB as long as rabies vaccinations remain valid.
If someone else other than the owner is transporting the pet, extra paperwork is needed and the pet must travel within five days of the owner entering the EU.
Labour sources said they hoped that the measures would fall away in July by which time the UK hopes to have signed its first “reset” deal with the EU.
The pet rules will be part of the agriculture or sanitary and phytosanitary agreement currently under negotiation to reduce trade barriers for food and farm exports.
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy says unblocking of EU loan is 'the right signal'
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that the unblocking of a €90bn European Union loan to Kyiv was “the right signal under the current circumstances.”
Writing on X, Zelenskyy said that incentives for Russia to end its war in Ukraine “can arise only when both support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia are sufficient.”
He added that Ukraine was fulfilling its obligations in relations with the European Union – even on such sensitive issues as the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline.
He said it was important that the European support package “becomes operational swiftly”.
Updated
Ireland confirms Hungary dropped its veto over €90bn loan
Irish foreign minister Helen McEntee has confirmed that Hungary dropped its veto on the €90bn loan for Ukraine.
In a series of posts on X, she said:
“I welcome Hungary’s confirmation in Coreper that it will lift its block on the €90bn loan, alongside the readiness of both Hungary and Slovakia to lift their block on the 20th sanctions package.
This is a positive and constructive step forward that underscores our shared commitment to unity, solidarity and decisive action at a critical time.
I look forward to the formal confirmation through Council written procedures and to continued close cooperation in advancing our common European priorities.”
Coreper, for those not familiar with Brussels speak, is the Committee of Permanent Representatives, where EU ambassadors meet to hash out issues before they get formally signed off by their national leaders.
Russia confirms plans to suspend flow of Kazakh oil through Druzhba pipeline to Germany
Russia has confirmed Wednesday that it would suspend the shipment of oil from Kazakhstan to Germany from May 1, citing “technical” reasons after on from earlier reports (see 14.38 CEST).
“From 1 May, volumes of Kazakh oil previously transported via the Druzhba pipeline to Germany will indeed be redirected to other available logistics routes. This is due to current technical capacities,” Russia’s deputy prime minister Alexander Novak told journalists, including from AFP, at the Kremlin.
He did not give a timeline for the resumption of supplies.
The German government on Wednesday halved its growth forecast for this year as the energy shock triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran hammers Europe’s biggest economy, Reuters reports.
The economy ministry said it expected gross domestic product (GDP) to expand 0.5% in 2026, down from a projection of 1% made in January.
It also cut its forecast for 2027 to 0.9%, down from 1.3%.
Hopes had been high that the eurozone’s traditional growth engine would sputter back to life in 2026 after years of stagnation, driven by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s public spending blitz.
But the jump in oil and gas prices since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran has dealt the economy a heavy blow, pushing up overall inflation and raising costs for the country’s crucial manufacturers.
Presenting the new forecasts, economy minister Katherina Reiche said that before the conflict, there had been signs of a moderate recovery.
“But the escalation in the Middle East has set us back economically,” she told a press conference. “The shock has hit the structurally weakened German economy hard once again.”
Russia plans to halt flow of Kazakh oil through Druzhba pipeline to Germany
But at the same time it looks like Russia plans to halt the flow of Kazakh oil through the Druzhba pipeline to a refinery in eastern Germany starting 1 May, according to what the German energy ministry told AFP.
The German subsidiary of Russia’s state-owned oil company Rosneft told German regulators that the Russian energy ministry had ordered the halt, the ministry confirmed to AFP, adding that Moscow had not confirmed the decision directly to the German government.
Rosneft Germany “is currently assessing the implications” of the pipeline closure for the refinery and is “utilising all available options to ensure security of supply in Germany”, the ministry said.
The German government took Rosneft Germany into trusteeship in the wake of Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine and European Union sanctions on the Russian energy sector.
The PCK refinery near the Polish border supplies much of the Berlin region with fuel, but the German government voiced confidence that the impact would be limited, AFP said.
Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said that changes in the “output from the pipeline will not significantly restrict refinery operations”, although he added that officials are keeping a close eye on the availability of kerosene in particular.
Meanwhile, a German government spokesperson said that the disbursement of the much-promised €90bn EU loan to Ukraine could happen within 24 hours, Reuters reported.
Obviously, that’s if Hungary does not object in writing before tomorrow’s final deadline for the formal procedure.
Updated
Lithuania’s president Gitanas Nausėda is the first leader to celebrate the apparent breakthrough on the €90bn loan.
In a post on X, he said:
“Welcoming the long-awaited decision to unlock €90bn for Ukraine. Europe delivers when united. We stand firmly with Ukraine and President @ZelenskyyU.”
With the written process ending tomorrow afternoon, it all sets us up nicely for a big moment in the evening, when the EU leaders arrive for their meeting in Cyprus, so they can celebrate the breakthrough and the disbursement of the much-needed money for Ukraine.
In this context, it’s probably not that surprising that Hungary’s outgoing prime minister Viktor Orbán who had been blocking the loan for the last four months is planning to skip tomorrow’s meeting.
The incoming prime minister, Péter Magyar, can’t represent Hungary until he takes office early next month.
EU's €90bn loan for Ukraine given preliminary approval; formal procedure to conclude on Thursday, EU presidency says
And here it is.
The Cypriot presidency of the European Union has just confirmed that the €90bn loan has been given a preliminary go-ahead by EU ambassadors.
Curiously, they say the 20th package of sanctions against Russia has also been given a preliminary green light. Slovakia’s Fico suggested earlier that Slovakia would continue to block them until the pipeline is “actually reopened” (12:02), so it sounds like he’s satisfied that it has.
“They will now go through a written procedure for their final adoption by the Council,” a Cypriot presidency spokesperson said.
The written procedure is expected to conclude tomorrow afternoon, which conveniently is also when the EU leaders are set to meet in Cyprus.
Let’s see if there are any late plot twists in this saga.
Updated
Hungary drops its opposition to EU's €90bn loan for Ukraine as oil flows resume
And we are now hearing via Reuters that as the Druzhba pipeline is now operational, Hungary has withdrawn its opposition to the finalisation of the €90bn loan for Ukraine.
Czech TV ČT24 also says the final process to approve the loan is now under way.
We will no doubt get a more official confirmation pretty soon.
Updated
Oil flows through Druzhba pipeline again, Ukrainian and Hungarian operators say
Here’s the official confirmation!
Hungarian oil giant MOL just passed on a message from the Ukrainian operator, JSC Ukrtransnafta, that “the receipt of crude oil from Belarus via the Druzhba pipeline system began in Ukraine at noon today.”
“MOL expects the first crude oil shipments following the restart of the Ukrainian section of the pipeline system to arrive in Hungary and Slovakia by tomorrow at the latest,” it added.
Updated
Oil price crisis could last months or years, EU's energy commissioner warns
Back in Brussels, the EU’s energy commissioner has warned that the oil price crisis could last months or years even if there is peace.
He has confirmed that the aviation sector could face the prospect of a shortage in jet fuel in the next five or six weeks.
“Jet fuel: this is the area now that is under most pressure and the IEA [International energy agency] has estimated that within five or six weeks we can have a real security of supply issue,” said Dan Jørgensen at a briefing unveiling emergency measures to deal with the crisis caused by the Iran war.
The EU imports 30% to 40% of its jet fuel needs, with about half coming from the Middle East.
Jørgensen said they had developed new tools in Brussels to ensure an “overview of refining capacity and stock in our diffeernt member states.
But he added: “But obviously we have to be quite honest and say that whether or not we will be a security-of-supply crisis is primarily a result of what goes on in the Middle East,” he said.
He warned that even if a peace deal is struck in the next few weeks between Iran and the US, the crisis will last months and perhaps years.
“We are looking into some very difficult months, or maybe even years depending on the development in the Middle East,” he said.
He argued:
“Take Qatar. It may take two years to rebuild its gas and transportation structure.
It means that the world market for LNG prices will not stabilise of even fall as was expected in the next couple of years.
Even a best case scenario is a pretty bad scenario for the months to come.”
Updated
Fico doubles down on his criticism of incoming Hungarian PM Magyar's comments, focus on Beneš decrees
During his press conference, Fico also doubles down on his criticism of the incoming Hungarian government led by Péter Magyar, in a further sign that the relations between Bratislava and Budapest could change dramatically in the next few months.
Fico has been close friends with Orbán, often teaming up with him on energy issues, but it doesn’t look like this Slovak-Hungarian partnership will continue under the new management in Budapest.
After criticising the Slovak media for their coverage of his government, Fico recalls their phone call yesterday, in which they clashed over the Slovak legislation on the Beneš decrees. It’s a complicated historical issue, which I tried to very briefly explain yesterday (Europe Live, Tuesday).
But he then expresses his frustration with Magyar’s comments alleging that the outgoing Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, tried to help Fico’s Smer win the Slovak parliamentary election in 2023 by pushing migrants towards the Slovak border and helping his counterpart build a campaign of fear around this issue.
Fico repeatedly says this as a “lie” and effectively a “smear campaign,” alleging Magyar’s close links with the Slovak opposition seeking to oust Fico in next year’s parliamentary election.
He then says that it appears that Magyar’s focus in bilateral relations will be on the thorny issue of the Beneš decrees (and the related Slovak law adopted late last year), which he dismisses as “yet another bubble” like the media’s critical reporting on his government.
As I said yesterday, one to watch.
Slovakia's Fico says processes of unblocking EU loan for Ukraine, restarting oil deliveries go 'hand in hand'
Meanwhile, Slovak prime minister Robert Fico is giving a press conference in Bratislava now, and I am listening along for hints on what is about to happen with the 90bn loan for Ukraine and the Druzhba pipeline.
Fico says his government is “watching closely” as “two processes go hand in hand” of unblocking the €90bn loan for Ukraine – that Slovakia has an opt-out from, alongside the Czech Republic and Hungary – and of restarting the pipeline.
“I assume this loan could be unblocked provided that all steps are taken to open the Druzhba pipeline,” he says.
He says it’s clear that Hungary and Slovakia’s insistence to freeze the funds prompted Ukraine to act quicker on its repairs.
But he also says that the trust between Bratislava and Kyiv has been damaged by the process, as he worries that Ukraine could look for a way to halt deliveries soon.
Fico heavily implies that Slovakia would be OK with hhe funds getting unblocked today, but will wait with approving further EU sanctions against Russia until the oil actually starts flowing.
“I don’t know how the EU will act if the loan is unblocked and in a few days the flow of oil from the Druzhba pipeline stops again. What we will do then, I really don’t know, but we must prepared for such an alternative.”
State interventions to help with energy must be 'targeted', commission says
The EU has insisted that member states must be “prudent” when deploying new measures, unveiled today, aimed at cushioning the impact of the current oil crisis.
The emergency measures, which can include vouchers for vulnerable customers and temporary state intervention to protect high energy industries, “must be targeted, timely and tied to long term solutions,” the European Commission said.
Officials said the EU was unable to take Covid-style measures which involved bloc-wide procurement of vaccines because it is not in the same economic state as it was back in 2020.
“The message on this temporary emergency measures is one of prudence. We are in a good position to handle the crisis because we are using more renewables since the last energy crisis but we are urging member states to be prudent,” said the insider.
Brussels will make legal proposals to amend the tax rules in May. EU tax rules are politically difficult to change, because they require unanimous approval from all 27 member states.
Electricity taxes and levies in the EU are, on average, around twice as high as those for natural gas, according to analysis by thinktank Strategic Perspectives.
EU to relax state aid rules, offer measures to help consumers face cost of living spike amid Iran war disruptions
The EU is to waive its state aid rules to allow member states to step in and help consumers weather the current cost of living crisis caused by the Iran war.
It will allow governments to issue energy vouchers, temporarily allow the reduction of excise duties for vulnerable households.
It will also allow emergency measures at state level to help industries facing existential threats because of the huge spike in the price of oil.
EU energy commissioner Dan Jørgensen said: “This must be a wake up call and a turning point.”
He cited initiatives in Austria where the government is supporting the removal of gas boilers and while Belgium and Germany are offering reduced VAT and low electricity prices respectively, to boost the installation of heat pumps.
France, which has seen a 50% increase in the sale of electric cars will relaunch its social leasing program for EVs.
But the other measures are aimed at accelerating green infrastructure for both consumers and industry.
They include enhancement of the bloc-wide grid with a legislative proposal on charges and taxes that are favourable to wind farms and renewable plants including hydropower.
It will also facilitate collaboration between the private and public sector at a clean energy investment summit to speed up renewable energy production.
“In the current crisis, speed and impact are paramount,” the European Commission said in a statement.
“When Europe steps away from fossil fuel dependence and steps toward clean energy autonomy. Because now it is more obvious than ever. Clean energy means security. It means affordability. It means independence,” said Jørgensen.
EU looks at measures to ease pressures on consumers in face of oil crisis caused by Iran war
Meanwhile, the EU is about to announce measures to ease the pressure on consumers in the face of the oil crisis caused by the Iran war.
Environment commissioner Teresa Ribera starts by announcing that green energy production has reached record levels. She doesn’t say it, but her native Spain is taking the lead.
“Renewable energy generation in Europe reached a new record high in the first quarter of this year, 15% higher than in the first quarter of 2025,” she said.
But the European Commission want to protect “social fairness” in the current crisis with five sets of actions.
The Commission said the measures – announced in a package called ‘AccelerateEU’ – included optimising the distribution of jet fuel between EU countries, in order to avoid shortages.
“The choices we make today will shape our ability to face the challenges of today and the crises of tomorrow. Our AccelerateEU strategy will bring both immediate and more structural relief measures to European citizens and businesses,” said European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
'We live in dangerous world,' Nato's Rutte warns, as he calls for ramp up in defence production
Elsewhere, Nato’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, spoke in Turkey in the last hour, delivering his usual spiel about how Europe needs to step up its defence production.
He said:
“We live … in a more dangerous world, and that means we need strong defences to protect our security. We need the best capabilities. We need to incorporate the latest technology.”
He explained that the alliance needed to gear up as it faces a number of challenges given “Russia’s war against Ukraine rages on, China’s military modernisation and nuclear expansion … continue … and Iran is spreading terror and chaos.”
His trip to Turkey is part of industry engagement ahead of Nato’s summit in Ankara in July.
Hungary confirms Druzhba pipeline is ready to resume oil deliveries
And we are getting a similar line from the Hungarian oil group MOL.
The company said it received a notification that “repair works on the Druzhba Pipeline have been completed and that the force majeure conditions in effect since 27 January 2026 ceased as of 6 pm on 21 April 2026.”
“According to the notification, JSC Ukrtransnafta is ready to resume crude oil transit to Hungary and Slovakia,” it added.
Ukraine started pumping oil through Druzhba with deliveries to Slovakia expected to resume on Thursday, minister says
Slovak economy minister Denisa Saková just said that the Ukrainian operator Ukrtransnafta confirmed it has started the “pressurisation and filling” of the Druzhba pipeline, with deliveries to Slovakia expected to resume on Thursday morning.
Updated
For what it’s worth, AFP is reporting a senior Kyiv official as telling the agency that Ukraine will restart the oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline “within a few hours.”
Let’s see if the EU’s decision can be made before then, or if Hungary will hold out until the oil is actually flowing.
Morning opening: EU close to signing off on €90bn loan for Ukraine
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.
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.
It’s Wednesday, 22 April 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
