Live – EU summit: Leaders set to challenge Orbán’s veto on €90bn Ukraine loan

Here’s a compressed timeline to understand the dispute around the Druzhba pipeline that has paralysed the €90 billion loan for Ukraine.

• 27 January: Flows of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline stop after a drone attack near the Brody pumping station. The attack is attributed to Russia.
• 15 February: Hungary and Slovakia, the two countries that remain connected to Druzhba, ask Croatia to allow Russian oil through the Adria pipeline. Croatia denies the request because Russian oil is under both EU and US sanctions.
• 18 February: Hungary and Slovakia halt diesel exports to Ukraine, accusing the country of deliberately shutting down the pipeline. Kyiv insists it is damaged and oil flows cannot resume.
• 19 February: As tensions escalate, the European Commission convenes an emergency meeting of its Oil Coordination Group. The executive says there is no energy supply crisis.
• 20 February: In a sudden move, Hungary decides to block the €90 billion loan for Ukraine that EU leaders had endorsed in December. The country vetoes the only legislative proposal that relates to the EU budget and requires unanimity.
• 24 February: During a visit to Ukraine, Ursula von der Leyen says the loan will happen “one way or the other”. She also asks Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accelerate the repair works.
• 26 February: Viktor Orbán proposes a “fact-finding mission” to the pipeline and admits the “political difficulties” caused by his veto.
• 6 March: Tensions dramatically escalate after Hungary seizes a convoy from a Ukrainian bank and Zelenskyy suggests giving Orbán’s personal address to his soldiers.
• 10 March: Robert Fico says he has reached an agreement with von der Leyen on the need to restore Druzhba. He also offers repair assistance, but insists the pipeline is operational.
• 17 March: Ukraine agrees to an external inspection of Druzhba led by the European Commission. The fact-finding mission is quickly put together and sent to the country.
• 19 March: EU leaders meet in Brussels.

The 27 leaders of the European Union are heading into a stormy summit on Thursday, with Hungary’s veto of a €90 billion loan for Ukraine, the war in the Middle East and high energy prices set to dominate the talks.

Here’s what to expect.