… and so on that note, it’s a wrap for today!

• Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy told EU leaders that “Ukraine has delivered on what was requested by the European Union” to unblock the critical €90bn loan for Kyiv (17:24, 18:08).

• He confirmed the Druzhba pipeline transporting oil to Hungary and Slovakia was fixed and could become operational after months of disruption caused by a Russian airstrike earlier this year (16:32) – but stopped short of confirming that the oil was actually flowing.

• The much-awaited news prompted the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, to say “a positive decision” on the €90bn loan could be reached in the next 24 hours (17:26).

• There has been no public comment from Hungary so far, the main country blocking the disbursement of the loan, but Kallas said that last week’s parliamentary election showed “a new momentum” to revisit “long-blocked decisions” (17:26, 17:28).

• The issue is expected to come up during tomorrow’s meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels, who could sign off the loan after months of delays, but there are some outstanding questions about the political sequence of the decision that is needed to progress the loan (12:39, 16:35).

In other news,

• EU foreign ministers did not decide to accept Spain, Ireland and Slovenia’s request to suspend all of parts of the bloc’s association agreement with Israel, despite growing frustration with its actions in the Middle East (16:26).

Elsewhere,

• The EU’s highest court has found Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ law to be discriminatory, stigmatising and in breach of basic democratic values, setting up an early test for the incoming prime minister Péter Magyar’s government when it takes power next month.

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.

But things are clearly afoot as Zelenskyy has now posted a readout from his call with the European Commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen, too.

In it, he repeated that “all necessary steps on Ukraine’s side have been taken,” as he said that the €90bn loan for Ukraine “will strengthen not only Ukraine but all of Europe, and it is important that we begin receiving [these funds] soon.”

He then added:

“We also addressed other European issues. It is entirely fair to open negotiation clusters on our EU membership – technically, Ukraine is already fully prepared. It is equally fair to continue maintaining sanctions pressure on Russia – Europe’s determination in adopting new sanctions steps is crucial, given the weakening of some existing restrictions. We agreed to examine these matters in detail and coordinate the next steps during our meeting.”

Asked about details of what she expects to happen on Ukraine, Kallas confirms that “we expect an agreement in 24 hours.”

“I don’t want to jinx it. I hope that everything goes well, because we have seen some [twists and] turns in this file, but this is the agreement that we had in December and resuming [the flows] is a promise that Ukraine made, so hopefully all the obstacles are removed.”

After a follow-up question she says she doesn’t know if the oil flows already or when it will flow, but says there was a clear promise from Ukraine to get it flowing – and given Zelenskyy has confirmed that everything else is ready, there’s a chance to break the deadlock now.

Kallas also talks about Israel, saying that some countries requested “a full or partial” suspension of the EU association agreement or restrictions on trade.

She says there was no unanimity needed to progress on this issue.

“The measures that we have already on the table that require qualified majority will require states shifting their position,” she added.

On the Middle East, Kallas calls for the next round of talks to happen at all cost, warning that “if the fighting resumes tonight, it will come at the very large cost for all.”

In particular, she says that Lebanon “is paying a heavy price for a war it did not choose.”

She says that it’s “non-negotiable” that the freedom of navigation should be restored, and “Europe will play its part in restoring the free flow of energy and trade once the conditions allow.”

She adds:

“We should also revisit long blocked decisions, including opening negotiation clusters with Ukraine, also the European peace facility weapons fund. Also, we should revisit sanctions that have been on the table and not agreed before. But also, we should move on with the new sanctions package.”

Kallas sticks to the earlier line, as she says she expects “positive movement” on the loan in the next 24 hours.

She says:

“We must continue to give Ukraine what it needs to hold its own. And its own until Putin understands that this war leads nowhere.

Following Hungarian elections, there is a new momentum, and I expect the positive decision on the 90 billion loan in the next 24 hours.”

In the meantime, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy posted another update after his phone call with the president of the European Council, António Costa.

He said the pair discussed the unblocking of the loan, and “Ukraine has delivered on what was requested by the European Union.”

Let’s stand by for a confirmation from the EU – or Hungary/Slovakia – that the oil is flowing, then.

Zelenskyy also then added:

“António also noted our security agreements with countries in the Middle East and the Gulf region. The Ukrainian system for protecting lives, which we are offering to partners in the Drone Deal format, is truly unique. We have already begun this cooperation with several European countries as well.

We agreed to continue discussing this topic during an in-person meeting in the near future. It is important that Europe remains united and protected.”

It remains to be seen what Zelenskyy actually means when he says there is a “connection” between the pipeline and the loan.

If he simply means that there’s a link between the two things, sure. That’s obvious.

But if it’s about the exact sequence of ending the current standoff that he would like to see, it could make things a bit awkward. After all, he says the pipeline “can” resume operation – and not that it has resumed.

Hungary’s outgoing and incoming prime ministers suggested that Ukraine should stop political games, and just get on with the restart. “If on the Ukrainian side ​the Druzhba pipeline is ready for oil shipments, then they should ​kindly reopen it as they had promised,” Péter Magyar told reporters yesterday.

Both he and Viktor Orbán suggested that the pipeline needs to resume its operations first for them to drop Budapest’s veto on the €90bn loan package for Ukraine. Slovak prime minister Robert Fico also suggested that’s the only right sequence of events.

But Zelenskyy’s comments drawing a “connection” between the two issues could be interpreted as a way of saying he wants the loan to progress first.

With EU ambassadors expected to meet to discuss the issue again tomorrow, let’s see what will come first: the resumption of oil flows, or the lifting of the veto.

It feels like a tiny, technical details that surely should easily get resolved given the stakes, but considering how little trust is there between the partners, it’s one to watch.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine “has completed repair work” on the Druzhba oil pipeline, which can now “resume operation,” potentially paving the way for the crucial €90bn EU loan for Ukraine to be finally released.

“Although no one can currently guarantee that Russia will not repeat attacks on the pipeline infrastructure, our specialists have ensured the basic conditions for restoring the operation of the pipeline system and equipment,” he said.

But he added:

“We connect this with the unblocking of the European support package for Ukraine, which had already been approved by the European Council. We also hope our partners will take the necessary steps regarding the EU [accession] negotiation clusters for Ukraine – we have already fulfilled our part of the work on the first clusters.”

Zelenskyy also added:

“In addition, we must continue systematic sanctions pressure on Russia over this war and work on further diversifying energy supplies to Europe. Europe must be independent from those who seek to destroy or weaken it.”

Speaking of Italians, Antonio Tajani is one of the first to leave the EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg.

On the Middle East, he says the ministers discussed the need to restore freedom of navigation in the strait of Hormuz, and to push for an end to the conflict.

But he added that the suggestion to suspend the trade part of the EU’s association agreement with Israel was “put aside.”

“Italy is against stopping the agreement. We need to put pressure [on Israel], but [this] is not the solution. We need to study other solutions,” he added in English, pointing to the Italian government’s decision to suspend its defence deal with Israel.

On Ukraine, he asked for a comment from his junior minister Maria Tripodi, and she said there was a “commitment” to unblock the €90bn loan for Ukraine.

“I don’t know how long it will take, but I believe we are moving towards continuing our support for Ukraine,” Tajani said.

Meanwhile, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said her government was prepared to make changes to a contested plan offering financial rewards to lawyers who help with migrants’ repatriations, even as she stood by the broader idea.

Under draft legislation set to be approved by parliament this week, lawyers assisting migrants with voluntary repatriation would receive state money, but only if the procedure is successfully completed, Reuters reported.

The measure has been denounced as unconstitutional by lawyers and judges’ associations, and has raised concerns from the country’s president Sergio Mattarella, who can refuse to sign legislation on constitutional grounds.

Meloni, who has headed a right-wing coalition in power since 2022, acknowledged that her government had received “technical observations” on the bill from the presidency and lawyers, which would be taken into account in a separate piece of legislation.

But Reuters noted that the measure is part of a so-called Security Decree which must receive final approval by the lower house of parliament by April 25, or else lapse. If it were amended, the upper Senate would also have to vote on it.

“There are no time margins ... to correct the decree,” Meloni said, without elaborating on future amendments. “We are going ahead with rules that we consider to be of absolute common sense.“

Associate editor, film

Martin Scorsese’s documentary about Pope Francis is to have its world premiere in the Vatican today as one of a set of events commemorating the first anniversary of Francis’s death.

The screening of the film, titled Aldeas, The Final Dream of Pope Francis, is being staged by Scholas Occurrentes, an international organisation aiming to “to encourage social integration ‎and the culture of encounter through sports, arts and technology”, which was set up in Argentina by Francis in 2001 while he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires, and made into a foundation when he became pope in 2013.

Scorsese announced the film, which he has co-directed with Johnny Shipley and Clare Tavernor, shortly after Francis’s death in April 2025, saying it would contain the pope’s last in-depth on-camera interview.

Originally titled Aldeas – A New Story, the film will outline Scholas Occurrentes’ Aldeas “community cinema movement” which Francis described before his death as “go[ing] to the roots of what human life is, human sociability, human conflicts ... the essence of a life’s journey”.

At the time Scorsese said: “Now, more than ever, we need to talk to each other, listen to one another cross-culturally … It was important to Pope Francis for people across the globe to exchange ideas with respect while also preserving their cultural identity, and cinema is the best medium to do that.”

The screening comes at a time of increasing tension between the US government and the papacy, after Pope Leo appeared to criticise the US and Israel’s attack on Iran. President Donald Trump attacked Leo in a social media post, and posted an image of himself as a Jesus-like figure, which was later deleted, while vice-president JD Vance said “the pope [needed] to be careful when he talks about matters of theology”.

Scorsese and Francis met a number of times, with Scorsese initiating an increasing number of religious-themed projects in recent years, including Silence, his 2016 adaptation of Shūsaku Endō’s novel about Jesuit missionaries in Japan, and his 2024 TV series The Saints.

Europe environment correspondent

In other news, Europe’s “stone age” system of booking train tickets makes it needlessly difficult for travellers to avoid polluting flights, a report has found.

Booking equivalent train tickets is “difficult or impossible” on almost half of the EU’s busiest international air routes, analysis from the Transport & Environment (T&E) thinktank shows.

Popular flight paths such as Lisbon-Madrid or Barcelona-Milan could not be booked from any rail operator’s website, the report found, while connections such as Paris-Rome and Amsterdam-Milan could only be booked from one of the operators.

Georgia Whitaker, a rail campaigner at T&E and author of the report, said it “almost feels a bit silly” that a clunky and outdated system was holding back climate action.

“In the world we live in you can get pretty much most things, for better or worse, with one click,” she said. “When you can’t do that to travel by rail – despite people’s best intentions – we are not going to see the full potential being utilised.”

Brussels correspondent

The EU’s highest court has found Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ law to be discriminatory, stigmatising and in breach of basic democratic values, setting up an early test for the incoming prime minister Péter Magyar’s government when it takes power next month.

In a wide-ranging judgment, the European court of justice said the 2021 law that bans content about LGBTQ+ people from schools and primetime TV was at odds with a society based on pluralism and fundamental rights such as prohibition of discrimination and freedom of expression.

Magyar won a landslide election victory last week after promising to root out corruption and improve living standards, but he has so far been muted on whether he will roll back the anti-LGBTQ+ policies introduced by Viktor Orbán, who was defeated after 16 years in power.

He has vowed to “bring home” EU funds intended to help Hungary develop its economy, some of which were frozen over the anti-LGBTQ+ law. A larger part was suspended over risks to academic freedom, breaches of the right to asylum and concerns about corruption and lack of judicial independence.

The ruling marks the first time the ECJ has found a member state guilty of breaking EU law based exclusively on breaching the bloc’s fundamental values described in article 2 of its treaty. These include respect for human dignity, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights, including those of minorities.

As a result, the judgment paves the way for future cases against EU member states that systematically flout basic values on democracy and the rule of law.

Hungary passed the so-called child protection law in 2021, imposing restrictions on schools and media companies in depicting LGBTQ+ people. Previously likened to Russia’s notorious “gay propaganda” law, the Hungarian legislation means gay and transgender people or themes cannot feature in school educational material or in any TV show, film or advert shown before 10pm.

The court said in a statement that the Hungarian law was “contrary to the very identity of the union as a common legal order in a society in which pluralism prevails”, and that Hungary could not “validly rely on its national identity” as justification for a law that breached fundamental values.

It said it expected Hungary to comply without delay and it ordered Budapest to pay its costs and those incurred by the European Commission, which brought the case. The Hungarian government has been contacted for comment.

The European Commission is now giving its daily press briefing with some details on how it looks to move ahead on the €90bn loan for Ukraine, and the state of play with the Druzbha pipeline.

The commission said that for its part it was doing “what we can to complete” the negotiations “as soon as possible” and get ready for a potential political decision on disbursing the funds to Ukraine.

But the commission said it was still waiting to see when Ukraine could resume the oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline.

The commission was also asked about Péter Magyar’s suggestion yesterday that as part of his broader political agreement with the EU, he could get the bloc to suspend daily fines for its controversial asylum law which was found to be in violation with the EU law.

The commission said that “there were no promises” and the first discussions over the weekend were merely “initial talks to take stock of where we are with Hungary on a wide set of topics.”

But it added that following the court’s ruling, “it’s up to … the Hungarian government to abide by the ruling, and once that is done, the issue is solved.”

So, that doesn’t really sound like there’s too much scope for political agreement on this issue.

The commission was also asked about today’s separate ruling on anti-LGBTQ law, which was found to be in breach of the EU law (10:25).

The spokesperson said it was a “landmark ruling” and, again, that it’s “now for the Hungarian government to implement the decision of the court.”

“The ball is on the Hungarian side of the court.”

As the new Hungarian government prepares to take office, it’s worth watching how the relationship between Hungary and Slovakia will change as a result.

Slovakia’s Robert Fico has often worked closely with the outgoing Hungarian PM, Viktor Orbán, teaming up when it comes to discussing energy issues or Ukraine-Russia policy, with both leaders openly engaging with Russia despite the EU’s highly-critical stance towards Moscow.

But his successor, Péter Magyar, is likely to take different positions on some of these issues.

The relationship will be further complicated by Slovakia’s recently adopted law seeking to stop the questioning of the long controversial Beneš decrees that led to the disenfranchisement and expulsion of Hungarians and Sudeten Germans from the former Czechoslovakia.

The pair spoke this morning in early engagement ahead of Magyar taking office next month, and the Hungarian leader made it clear that he wanted Bratislava to move on the contentious issue.

“I made it clear that we can only engage in discussions on any policy matters if we receive guarantees that Slovakia will repeal the legislation threatening Hungarians in Slovakia with imprisonment, and if it is clearly established that, in the future, there will be no confiscation of the land of our Hungarian compatriots in Slovakia on the basis of the Beneš Decrees and the principle of collective guilt,” he said.

Magyar said that “the protection of the rights of our Hungarian compatriots in Slovakia remains the highest priority in Hungarian – Slovak relations,” and that he would discuss this further with Fico at this week’s European Council in Brussels.

The Slovak prime minister struck a different tone, saying he would want to work closely with Magyar and was hoping to discuss his plans on the Druzhba pipeline and the previous government’s plans to sue the EU over plans to halt Russian energy imports.

But, he admitted, that “it clearly emerged from the conversation that Péter Magyar’s priority in Slovak–Hungarian relations is, and will be, the Beneš Decrees on which we have fundamentally different positions.”

For what it’s worth, the two leaders had clashed over this issue even before the Hungarian election, with the issue of rights of ethnic Hungarians remaining politically salient in Hungary – and it will obviously become even more important now that Magyar is in government.

One to watch.

Meanwhile over in Russia, the Kremlin said it was technically ready to resume oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia if and when Ukraine ended what Moscow called its “blackmail”.

Russia, and Hungary’s outgoing government led by Viktor Orbán, continues to blame Ukraine for suspending the deliveries after Kyiv said the pipeline was damaged by Russian strikes.

“As things stand, you are aware that the Russian side remains technically ready. We have contractual obligations with Hungary. But following the start of the Kyiv regime’s blackmail, deliveries have been halted,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in comments reported by Reuters.

“Everything depends on the Kyiv regime – whether they will open the pipeline and put an end to the blackmail,” he said.

Lithuania’s Kęstutis Budrys is also clearly relieved about the election result in Hungary, as he says it’s “a great development.”

Now we won’t have a Trojan horse in our castle [any more], and it’s a good thing.

Ouch.

But he says that “what was done before should not be forgotten” as he urges the EU to continue its investigation into what the outgoing Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó shared with Russia and when.

“On Ukraine, using this momentum, we have to release the support loan to Ukraine, €90bn. It is important to move fast and to have the first payment already next month,” he says.

But, somewhat optimistically, he also says he wants to see progress on Ukraine’s accession to the EU – but there seems to be no political agreement on this issue at the moment.

On Ukraine, Latvia’s junior foreign minister Artjoms Uršuļskis gives us a bit of news as he says that it’s hoped that the EU could start disbursing to Ukraine “already in May.”

On the Middle East, Germany’s Wadephul urged Iran to engage in talks with the US in Islamabad and to ensure “free and safe shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz without delay.”

He said that Iran should accept the US request for talks “in the interests of its people,” as he said “there is still a window of opportunity to end this war through negotiations.”

But on Israel, just I like suggested earlier (10:05), he made it clear that Germany would not support the suspension of the association agreement, calling the suggestion “inappropriate.”

But he did say that the EU needs to have a word with Israel – “critical, constructive dialogue” in diplospeak – and demand it “confronts the settler violence clearly, firmly, and with all legal means.”

German foreign minister Joseph Wadephul also makes it very clear that he is relieved with the change of government in Hungary, calling it “a breath of fresh air” and a promise of hope for Ukraine.

He urged Hungary to drop its “unusual blockade” for policies for Ukraine “as quickly as possible,” pointing to what he argued was a clear pro-European mandate from the electorate in Hungary (it’s a bit more complicated than that, though).

He said the 90bn loan needed to be released “very swiftly,” and there is no time to wait for the change of government next month.

Back in Luxembourg, it’s quite telling how many ministers are talking with relief about the expected change of government in Hungary after Viktor Orbán lost to Péter Magyar just over a week ago.

The issue comes up in almost every doorstep, with ministers talking about how hopeful they are that the €90bn loan for Ukraine will finally be able to progress.

Sweden’s Maria Malmer Stenergard said she was “quite optimistic that after the Hungarian obstacle is gone, so to speak, we will be able to deliver on the promise we have made to the Ukrainians … and move forward with the 20th sanctions package” against Russia.

Poland’s junior minister Ignacy Niemczycki said that “after the expected change of government in Hungary, many things to do with Ukraine will get unblocked.”

“I am hopeful that we will be able to swiftly progress the loan for Ukraine, and the 20th package of sanctions, and I am expecting decisions already in the coming days.”

The EU’s top court has ruled that a Hungarian law banning content about LGBTQ+ people from schools and primetime TV violates basic human rights and freedom of expression.

In its ruling, the first time an adverse finding was made on the basis of the EU’s foundational list of values, the court said the Orbán-era reform violated “several fundamental rights” protected by the EU laws.

“The law is contrary to the very identity of the Union as a common legal order in a society in which pluralism prevails,” the court’s statement said.

Hungary should comply with the judgment “without delay”, posing a fresh political test for the incoming Tisza government of Péter Magyar as he hopes to improve Budapest’s relations with the EU.

If the country does not follow the ruling, the European Commission could bring a further legal action asking for financial penalties to be imposed, like it happened in a separate case on Hungary’s asylum laws.

More on this to follow.

Ireland’s foreign minister Helen McEntee has just been speaking with reporters as she arrived at the meeting in Luxembourg, and she offered a neat summary of where we are on both issues.

On Ukraine, she said it was “really important as the EU that we make progress” on the loan and the related 20th package of sanctions against Russia to “exert as much pressure as possible on Russia.”

She said that talking to Ukrainian leaders it was clear “we are at that breaking point where that loan is absolutely essential.”

She also pointedly welcomed the new Hungarian government’s position on this, and said she hoped that “we will see the release of funds” soon.

On the Middle East, she said the joint Spanish, Slovenian and Irish initiative to ask for a debate on the association agreement was meant to send a clear signal that “we … need to uphold our fundamental values” in relations with associated countries.

“Israel has, since our last meeting, enacted a new law which essentially introduces the death penalty, but in particular penalises and specifically targets Palestinian people. It’s completely unacceptable, and so we have asked for a suspension of the Israeli agreement, and if not, then a suspension on the trade elements of the Israeli agreement.

We must be seeking to have this not just as a discussion here today at the council but that there would be some clear actions at the next council meeting.”

Again, she says that the result of the Hungarian election last week, “it is very clear that there has been a shift” there in terms of political signals coming from the new government.

This is not entirely unexpected and, as explained earlier, it is still hinging on the Druzhba pipeline restarting in the next 24 hours, but it definitely sounds like there are growing reasons for optimism among the EU’s most senior leaders.

Could the loan, agreed in December but held up by Hungary and Slovakia, be finally released to Ukraine in the next few days or weeks?

But it looks like there is some movement on Ukraine.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has just confirmed that she expects “some positive decisions tomorrow” on the €90bn loan.

“Ukraine really needs this loan and it is also a sign that Russia cannot outlast Ukraine. This is extremely important at this moment.”

Just as expected.

Spain’s foreign minister José Manuel Albares has just confirmed that Spain, Slovenia and Ireland have requested a discussion on suspending the EU’s association treaty with Israel at today’s meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers.

He said the process was about the EU’s “credibility” on all other issues, as the bloc is expected to stand “for the same principles” everywhere.

He said that if the EU is “not capable to say today to Israel” that it is expected to respect human rights and international law, and not make war a foreign policy tool, “we are going to lose that credibility.”

“We have to say the same thing that we say to Russia concerning Ukraine, and that we say in other scenarios, and since the last time we brought this same position, things have worsened,” he said.

“European Union has to say today very clearly to Israel that that change is needed. That’s not the right path, and that while Israel continues in that path of a permanent perpetual war, we will not be able to [run our relations] in the same way.”

He said that if suspending the association treaty in full is unacceptable for some members, the bloc should consider suspending at least the trade element of the deal.

EU foreign ministers are meeting in Luxembourg this morning to discuss the latest on Ukraine, Russia and the Middle East.

The ministers are awaiting an update on the Druzbha pipeline carrying Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, which is understood to be close to being operational against after months of bitter disputes between Ukraine and the two countries.

Hungary’s outgoing prime minister Viktor Orbán suggested he would drop his country’s veto on the EU’s €90bn loan for Ukraine as soon as the oil starts flowing, which could happen this week. Slovakia is understood to be in the same position.

The issue is currently expected to be discussed by EU ambassadors on Wednesday, but could come up earlier. One to watch.

But the discussions will also focus on the situation in the Middle East, with the Lebanese prime minister, Nawaf Salam, joining the ministers to give an update on the regional security situation.

Spain, Ireland and Slovenia are among countries calling for closer scrutiny of Israel’s actions, including a more radical step of suspending the association agreement with the EU and imposing sanctions on violent Israeli settlers.

While substantial progress is unlikely to be made on this today as Orbán’s Hungary, a close Israel ally, continues to oppose any such move, the ministers will probably be looking at what could be possible at their next meeting once the government in Budapest changes.

EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, hinted yesterday that the position of Magyar’s government could be different, saying – without naming Hungary specifically – that there could be “a new approach” to the issue:

“Now this country [has recently] had the elections and will [soon] have a new government. I will not speak for the new government, but definitely I think we can look into all these policies and see whether they have a new approach.”

Lots for us to cover this morning.

I will keep an eye on all of that and bring you the latest here.

It’s Tuesday, 21 April 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

Good morning.