EU leaders have approved a €90 billion loan for Ukraine and a new sanctions package against Russia, while also discussing Ukraine’s stalled bid to join the European Union at an informal summit in Cyprus.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected any idea of “partial” EU membership, insisting Ukraine deserves full accession because it is defending Europe and paying a human cost in the war.

He urged EU partners to avoid symbolic or limited arrangements, saying Ukraine needs real membership rather than incomplete integration.

Ukraine’s accession talks have been blocked since 2024, largely due to Hungary’s veto under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, though political changes in Budapest are raising hopes of progress, Euro News has reported.

EU officials said the new financial and sanctions measures should help pave the way for opening the first negotiation cluster on Ukraine’s membership.