The European Union’s massive €90 billion loan for Ukraine is finally unblocked. Formal approval came last Thursday, ending months of deadlock between the grouping and Hungary. Unlike previous aid, this package is designed for a long fight, with the bulk of the money going directly into Ukraine’s domestic weapons production. Russia has already announced a retaliatory energy cutoff to Germany starting this Friday, and new fractures are appearing elsewhere in the bloc. So the big question remains: Will this €90 billion loan give Ukraine a chance for parity on the battlefield and will that leverage open up both sides to a political solution?

Image Credit: Shutterstock