Budapest – Hungary will block a proposed 90 billion euro ($97 billion) European Union loan to Ukraine and oppose the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced Tuesday.
Szijjártó, speaking in a video posted to his Facebook page while en route to a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, stated Hungary’s opposition stems from the Ukrainian government’s alleged deliberate obstruction of resuming oil shipments via the Druzhba pipeline. According to Ukrainian officials, the pipeline has been disrupted since late January due to Russian bombardments.
“It will be a big fight, everyone will demand our blood, but that’s just the way it is,” Szijjártó said, adding that Hungary is prepared to withstand pressure because “no one should take Hungary for a ride” and jeopardize its energy security.
The announcement formalizes a veto previously signaled by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who cited the halted oil flows as justification. Hungary has repeatedly sought exemptions from EU sanctions targeting Russia, citing its reliance on Russian energy supplies.
The proposed EU loan is intended to provide crucial financial support to Ukraine as it continues to defend against the ongoing Russian invasion, which began in February 2022. The funds are also intended to help Ukraine maintain essential government services and rebuild infrastructure.
According to Al Jazeera, the 90 billion euro loan is a key component of a broader EU effort to support Ukraine. The blockage of the loan raises questions about the EU’s ability to maintain a united front against Russia and provide sustained assistance to Ukraine.
Hungary has also voiced strong objections to discussions regarding the potential use of frozen Russian assets to fund loans for Ukraine, calling such a move a “war provocation of unprecedented scale,” according to Anadolu Ajansı.
Reuters reported that Hungary has requested assistance from Croatia following the halt of Russian oil flows through Ukraine. The specifics of that assistance were not detailed in the report.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the European Council had not issued a statement responding to Szijjártó’s announcement. The meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels is scheduled to continue, with the Ukraine loan and sanctions package expected to be central topics of discussion.
