EU gives preliminary approval to unblock 90-bn-euro Ukraine loan

EU countries on Wednesday gave a preliminary green light to unblocking a 90-billion-euro loan for Ukraine, with Hungary given 24 hours to sign off definitively, diplomats said. Budapest has said it is waiting for oil to arrive through the Druzhba pipeline after Kyiv fixed it following a months-long row. Cyprus, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, said ambassadors from the bloc's 27 member states had agreed to launch a "written procedure" for final approval by Thursday afternoon. This story is developing and will be updated. (FRANCE 24 with AFP)