Ukraine ready to open EU accession talks, says President Zelenskiy

EU leaders gathered in European Union Cyprus for an informal summit, where they approved a €90 billion loan to Ukraine and new sanctions against Russia ahead of wider talks on Ukraine, Iran, and Middle East tensions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also attended the meeting, as leaders prepared to discuss energy policy and the EU’s long-term budget.

Christian Levaux, A. Lennon/Reuters

April 24, 2026

Ukraine ready to open EU accession talks, says President Zelenskiy

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrives to attend an informal European leaders' summit in Ayia Napa, Cyprus April 23, 2026.

Yiannis Kourtoglou/Reuters

EU leaders arrived in Cyprus on Thursday (April 23) for a two-day informal summit to discuss Ukraine, the Iran crisis and EU financing.

The European Union formally approved a 90-billion-euro ($105-billion) loan to Ukraine on Thursday as well as new sanctions against Russia, ahead the meeting in Cyprus which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also attended.

The loan is set to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's needs for the next two years. Economists had said Ukraine would start to run out of money by June if the EU loan was not disbursed by then, requiring deep cuts to public services.

No formal decisions will be taken at the Cyprus summit, during which EU leaders will also discuss the war in the Middle East, energy measures in response, and the EU's next long-term budget. They will be joined by leaders from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Gulf Cooperation Council for lunch on Friday (April 24).

-Christian Levaux, A. Lennon/Reuters