EU leaders have expressed fury after Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán refused to approve a €90bn (£78bn) loan for Ukraine, reneging on a December agreement. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the move as 'a gross act of disloyalty' and warned it would leave 'deep marks' on EU relations.
Speaking after an EU summit in Brussels, Merz said leaders had asked the European Commission to find alternative ways to disburse the funds despite Hungary's opposition. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated: 'The loan remains blocked because one leader is not honouring his word. But we will deliver one way or the other.'
European Council President António Costa told reporters that leaders condemned Orbán's attitude, adding: 'Nobody can blackmail the European institutions.' EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas noted that Hungary had agreed to the loan in December and was now 'taking its agreement back', accusing Orbán of acting in bad faith.
Orbán's veto is linked to a dispute over the Druzhba oil pipeline, which carries Russian oil to Hungary via Ukraine. Orbán claims Ukraine is blocking repairs after a Russian attack damaged the pipeline. He stated: 'I will never support any kind of decision here which is in favour of Ukraine as long as the Hungarians are not able to get the oil which belongs to us.'
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo accused Orbán of using Ukraine 'as a weapon' in his election campaign, while Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever called the behaviour 'unacceptable'. The loan, agreed by 24 member states in December, was intended to provide urgent military aid and government support for Ukraine, with Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic exempt from contributing. EU officials aim to make the first tranches available by early April.
