Hungary will block a planned 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) European Union loan to Ukraine, its foreign minister declared Friday, escalating a dispute over Kyiv’s continued interruption of Russian oil shipments via the Druzhba pipeline.
The move, announced by Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, comes after Hungary and Slovakia accused Ukraine of deliberately delaying the resumption of oil flows through the pipeline, which were halted on January 27 following what Ukrainian officials attributed to a Russian drone attack. Both Hungary and Slovakia have exemptions from an EU ban on Russian oil imports.
Szijjártó accused Ukraine of “blackmail,” stating, “We will not give in to this blackmail. We do not support Ukraine’s war, we will not pay for it.” He added that Hungary would withhold support for EU decisions favorable to Ukraine until oil transit resumes. The statement was made in a video posted on social media, according to the Associated Press.
Slovakia has also threatened to curtail support to Ukraine. Prime Minister Robert Fico stated he will request relevant Slovak companies to halt emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine if oil shipments are not restored by Monday, according to reports.
Ukraine has proposed alternative routes for oil shipments to Europe while repairs to the Druzhba pipeline are underway, suggesting transit through Ukraine’s oil transportation system or a maritime route. In a letter to the EU, the Ukrainian mission asserted its “continuous readiness to ensure transportation of the oil within the available legal framework,” Reuters reported.
The disruption to the Druzhba pipeline has created tensions between Ukraine and its European neighbors, with Kyiv maintaining that a Russian attack caused the damage. However, Hungary has disputed this claim, alleging that Ukraine is intentionally obstructing the flow for political reasons. According to the Independent, Hungarian officials have rejected Kyiv’s assertions, stating that Ukraine has not resumed oil transit for political reasons.
The European Union is currently in contact with Ukraine to determine a timeline for repairing the Druzhba pipeline, according to a European Commission spokesperson. The EU is also prepared to convene an emergency coordination group to discuss alternative fuel supply routes, as reported by RFERL on February 17, 2026. The spokesperson also indicated that Hungary and Slovakia currently hold 90 days of reserve fuel stocks, mitigating immediate supply risks.
Hungary and Slovakia are the only EU member states with refineries still processing Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline, according to CBC News. On Wednesday, both countries suspended diesel exports to Ukraine in response to the halted oil flows.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck an industrial site in Russia’s Udmurt Republic on Saturday, damaging a key state-owned missile factory, according to a Russian news channel. Eleven people were injured, three of whom were hospitalized. Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on the attack.
