Our readers' questions about the war, answered. Vol. 11

An emergency responder works at the site of a heavily damaged building as smoke rises following Russian strikes in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 24, 2026. Editor's note: We asked members of the Kyiv Independent community to share the questions they have about the war. Here's what they asked and how we answered.

Join our community to ask a question in the next round. Question: With a new prime minister elected in Hungary, is the blocked loan to Ukraine expected to be approved, and when could it be disbursed? Are there other EU member states that might block funding or slow Ukraine’s integration into the EU, similar to Hungary’s earlier position? policy, how much can Ukraine rely on the EU alone for financial and political support? Answer: Since the loan has already been approved, the disbursement is most likely to go as planned. The first payment is expected by early June, with half of the loan, that is 45 billion euros ($52.1 billion), to be paid out this year. All necessary legislation has been approved, and I don't expect any more opposition to the funding. Some members — Czechia, Slovakia, but also Hungary under Magyar — will be content with not contributing themselves while not blocking aid from the rest of the EU. Regarding accession talks, it's more complicated. No member states currently oppose Ukraine's entry per se, but some maintain it should happen only after the war is over, and most reject fast-tracking the accession. With Orban out, I think the process will at least start moving forward, and we can see the opening of the first negotiation clusters within a few months. One major obstacle down the road is, sadly, still Hungary.

Key points

• Join our community to ask a question in the next round.
• Question: With a new prime minister elected in Hungary, is the blocked loan to Ukraine expected to be approved, and when could it be disbursed?
• Are there other EU member states that might block funding or slow Ukraine’s integration into the EU, similar to Hungary’s earlier position?
• policy, how much can Ukraine rely on the EU alone for financial and political support?
• Answer: Since the loan has already been approved, the disbursement is most likely to go as planned.