BRUSSELS, March 19 (Reuters) - European Union leaders are expected to put heavy pressure on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Thursday to lift his blockade on a vital 90-billion-euro ($103 billion) EU loan to Ukraine to keep up its fight against Russia's invasion.

The same goes for geopolitical alliances. When partners embark on a momentous endeavour, be it bringing up children or, perhaps, thwarting the neo-imperial designs of a Russian despot, some friction is to be expected.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stressed that a €90 billion loan for Ukraine which has already been agreed within the European Union must be disbursed immediately.

The EU on Tuesday pressed ahead with the steps needed to get Ukraine and Moldova into the bloc, despite Hungary’s efforts to prevent further enlargement. The two prospective EU members were given legal guidance covering three negotiating “clusters” that need to be completed before joining (guidance for three other so-called clusters was shared in December).

Germany says the EU must move fast despite disagreements German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called on the European Union to urgently unblock €90 billion in financial assistance for Ukraine, DW reports.

Ukrainian leader visits Spain after London as part of efforts to keep the war with Russia a priority in Europe, despite the US-Israeli war on Iran dominating attention.

Alexander Stubb, a golf buddy of the U.S. president, says it’s a “really good idea” to try to bargain with Trump, who wants Europe to help him open the Strait of Hormuz.

Ukraine does not “want to lose the Americans” while they are “without question, currently more focused on the Middle East,” President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

BRUSSELS, March 16 (Reuters) - French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Monday that the European Union would impose sanctions on nine people accused of war crimes related to the Bucha killings in Ukraine.