P\u00e9ter Magyar\u2019s landslide victory over Viktor Orb\u00e1n in Sunday\u2019s Hungarian elections triggered a collective sigh of relief in Brussels \u2013 and in Kyiv.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Magyar\u00a0suggested<\/a>, but didn\u2019t confirm, that he will lift Budapest\u2019s veto on the loan. But he also expressed confusion about why the scheme is blocked in the first place, given that Hungary has received an opt-out that means it is not financially liable to repay the loan\u2019s interest or principal.<\/p>\n Adding to this sense of overall optimism, Zelenskyy \u2013 who has previously suggested that Ukraine\u00a0wouldn\u2019t repair<\/a>\u00a0the pipeline at all \u2013 said last week that the repairs would be completed \u201cthis spring<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n But even if the loan is slightly delayed, EU officials \u2013 and, judging by his actions, Zelenskyy himself \u2013 do not believe this will significantly harm Ukraine\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n Analysts also note that Kyiv could, in a worst-case scenario, print money or issue war bonds to its domestic banks in order to remain financially viable.<\/p>\n Maksym Samoiliuk, an economist at the Centre for Economic Strategy, a Kyiv-based think tank, believes that Kyiv could remain financially solvent until mid-July \u2013 well beyond the late April or early May period\u00a0previously estimated<\/a>\u00a0by many analysts and officials.<\/p>\n This, he said, could be done by Kyiv spending money earmarked for the end of 2026 during the first half of the year. State-owned firms could also pay out dividends to the Ukrainian government earlier than planned, he added.<\/p>\n \u201cNevertheless,\u201d Samoiliuk said, the loan \u201cis still crucial going forward. Let\u2019s hope that the news from Hungary brings us more reasonable Brussels-Budapest relations.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Source: <\/span>Kyivpost<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\nMounting optimism<\/strong><\/h4>\n