EU ambassadors approve 90-bln-euro loan for Ukraine, new sanctions on Russia: reports

European Union (EU) members' ambassadors on Wednesday approved a 90-billion-euro (105.6 billion U.S. dollars) loan for Ukraine, according to reports citing sources from Cyprus, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency.

The ambassadors also reached an agreement on a new round of sanctions against Russia, the reports said.

The final written procedure for the aforementioned measures is expected to be completed on Thursday.

Ukraine on Wednesday resumed oil transit from Russia to some European countries through the Druzhba pipeline, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.

Pumping began at 12:35 local time (0935 GMT), an industry source said on condition of anonymity.

The Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian crude to Central Europe, had been halted since late January 2026.

Meanwhile, Hungarian energy group MOL Group said that the first batch of oil is expected to arrive in Hungary and Slovakia by Friday at the latest.

Previously, damage to the pipeline had disrupted oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia, with relevant countries taking a reserved stance on a loan plan for Ukraine, creating a deadlock within the EU.

The restart of the pipeline has significantly eased political differences within the EU.

EU ambassadors approve 90-bln-euro loan for Ukraine, new sanctions on Russia: reports

Britain's consumer price index (CPI) rose by 3.3 percent year on year in March, up from those recorded in January and February as the Middle East conflict has led to motor fuel price hikes, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed on Wednesday.

The country's inflation rate stood at three percent both in January and February 2026. On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.7 percent in March, compared with a rise of only 0.3 percent one year ago, according to the ONS.

It said motor fuels made the largest upward contribution to the change in CPI annual rates.

The overall motor fuel prices surged by 4.9 percent year on year in March, making a sharp contrast to a fall of 4.6 percent year on year in February, and hitting the highest level recorded since January 2023.

Britain's core CPI (CPI excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco) increased by 3.1 percent year on year in March, down from 3.2 percent registered in February, the data also showed.

Britain's CPI up to 3.3 pct in March amid fuel price rises