Hungary will block a 90 billion euro loan from the European Union to Ukraine until the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline is restored. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced this on the X social network on Friday evening, TASR reports. “As long as Ukraine blocks the Druzhba pipeline, Hungary will block Ukraine’s war loan of 90 billion euros. We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed.” wrote Orbán.
According to Szijjártó, Kyiv violates the association agreement between the EU and Ukraine and does not comply with its obligations towards the Union. “Ukraine is blackmailing Hungary by stopping oil transit in coordination with Brussels and the Hungarian opposition, to cause supply shortages in Hungary and increase fuel prices before the (parliamentary) elections,” the minister said.
Oil has not flowed to Hungary and Slovakia through the Druzhba pipeline since January 27. The reason is supposed to be a Russian attack on the oil pipeline facility in the city of Brody in the Lviv region.
Orbán and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico suspect Kyiv of political “blackmail” by Hungary, which opposes Ukraine’s entry into the EU. The Slovak government declared an oil emergency on Wednesday and threatened retaliatory measures if transit is not restored. the AFP agency reminds.
The European Parliament approved the EU loan for Ukraine for the years 2026 and 2027 already on February 11. The enhanced cooperation mechanism allows Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary not to participate in this initiative. Final approval by the Council of the EU, made up of the ministers of the member states, is still required before the funds are disbursed. This step was initially considered a formality, but according to the DPA agency, the final vote was postponed.
