European Union leaders on Thursday intensified pressure on Viktor Orbán to lift Hungary’s veto on a €90-billion ($103 billion) EU loan package intended to support Ukraine’s war effort against Russia.
The issue was raised at an EU summit in Brussels, where leaders warned that Ukraine could face a severe funding shortfall within weeks without the financial support.
The loan was initially agreed in December by the 27-member bloc, but Hungary later blocked its implementation, citing a dispute over the damaged Druzhba oil pipeline that runs through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia.
The pipeline was hit during the ongoing war sparked by Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten described Hungary’s veto as “unacceptable,” urging EU leaders not to consider alternative plans that could reward political pressure.
Other leaders echoed similar frustration, accusing Orbán of undermining the bloc’s unity at a critical time for Kyiv.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo suggested Orbán was using the Ukraine funding dispute as leverage ahead of Hungary’s upcoming April election.
EU diplomats said leaders would highlight an agreement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to repair the pipeline with EU technical and financial support in hopes of persuading Budapest to drop its opposition.
Despite the mounting pressure, Orbán signaled no immediate shift in position, insisting Hungary was still waiting for oil supplies through the pipeline before reconsidering the deal.
Some officials believe the EU may have to delay the loan’s implementation until after Hungary’s election next month.