EU Commission spokesperson says we would expect Hungary's PM Orbán to abide by his political commitment on loan to Ukraine

EU Commission spokesperson says we would expect Hungary's PM Orbán to abide by his political commitment on loan to Ukraine

EU Commission Pressures Hungary to Honor €90 Billion Ukraine Loan Commitment Amid Pipeline Dispute

The European Commission has reiterated its expectation that Hungary uphold its political agreement to support a €90 billion ($105 billion) loan package for Ukraine, despite Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s recent objections tied to a dispute over Russian oil transit. The Commission emphasized that the funding, approved in principle by EU leaders in December 2025, is critical to sustaining Ukraine’s war effort against Russia and stabilizing its economy.

Hungary, however, has blocked legislative progress on the loan, demanding the resumption of Russian oil shipments via the Druzhba pipeline, which Ukraine claims was damaged by a Russian attack in late 2025. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó accused Kyiv of "blackmail" for halting transit, arguing that disrupted supplies threaten Hungary's energy security and inflate fuel prices ahead of national elections in April. Ukraine has proposed alternative routes for oil deliveries to Central Europe but has rejected allegations of deliberate supply restrictions.

The loan package, backed by EU borrowing and guarantees, is designed to address Ukraine's budgetary and military needs through 2027. While Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic secured exemptions from repaying the EU's borrowing costs, the Commission insists all member states must honor the December political agreement. Orbán, a vocal critic of Kyiv's war efforts, has framed the pipeline issue as a leverage point to challenge EU cohesion, with analysts noting his government's strategic use of anti-Ukraine rhetoric to bolster domestic support.

The standoff has delayed broader EU sanctions against Russia and raised concerns about Kyiv's financial stability, as Ukraine warns it may exhaust critical funds by April. With Croatia and other member states urging dialogue, the Commission faces mounting pressure to resolve the impasse without further fracturing EU unity. For now, the fate of the loan—and Kyiv's access to vital resources—remains contingent on a resolution to the oil transit dispute.

(https://www.kyivpost.com/post/70498): KyivPost, NYTimes, Politico
(https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-delays-eus-e90b-loan-to-ukraine/): Politico
(https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/02/23/double-hungarian-veto-thwarts-loan-for-ukraine-and-new-sanctions-on-russia): Euronews