EU: Key loan to Ukraine will happen 'one way or another,' new Russia sanctions 'a matter of time'

Описание: (24 Feb 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kyiv - 24 February 2026
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President:
"We discussed changes to EU legislation that would make it possible to stop Russian tankers and seize the oil they transport. And it's doable. We also spoke about ensuring that the 90 billion loan works for Ukrainians as quickly and effectively as possible."
++WHITE FLASH++
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President:
"And we count on 20 sanctions package being strong and efficient. It must be adopted as soon as possible."
++WHITE FLASH++
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission:
"The loan was agreed by 27 heads of state and government, and the European Council. They have given their word. This word cannot be broken. So we will deliver on the loan one way or the other. Let me be very clear, here we have different options and we will use them."
++WHITE FLASH++
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission:
"The sanctions have to be adopted by unanimity and this will not change of course, but we have been working on 19 sanctions packages with success. None of it was easy. We had to negotiate any package, but from the experience that we passed 19 packages of sanctions I'm confident that we're also going to pass the 20th one. It's a matter of time."
++WHITE FLASH++
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Antonio Costa, President of the European Council:
"That's why I wrote to Prime Minister Orban saying that Hungary is violating the principle of sincere cooperation and I urge Hungry to immediately cooperate in the implementation of the decision taken by the European Council the 18th of December."
6. Zelenskyy, von der Leyen and Costa putting hands together
STORYLINE:
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that even though none of the previous sanctions packages against Russia were easy, she's confident the 20th one is only "a matter of time."

"The sanctions have to be adopted by unanimity and this will not change of course, but we have been working on 19 sanctions packages with success," said von der Leyen at a joint press-conference with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of the European Council Antonio Costa in Kyiv.

Zelenskyy said the leaders "changes to EU legislation that would make it possible to stop Russian tankers and seize the oil they transport."

Costa said that no one can block European Council's decisions saying he wrote to Hungary's Victor Orban, urging him to "immediately cooperate in the implementation of the decision taken by the European Council the 18th of December."

European officials traveled to the Ukrainian capital on Tuesday to show their support for Zelenskyy and and the Ukrainian people.

While Putin did not get the quick and overwhelming victory he had hoped for, the cost has been high on both sides. And as Europe’s biggest conflict enters its fifth year, there is no sign of any peace deal despite U.S. diplomatic efforts over the past year.

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