Zelensky urges EU to bypass Hungary’s ‘blackmail’ veto on vital US$103 billion loan
Ukrainian leader calls Hungary's blockade 'blackmail' over a damaged Russian oil pipeline.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has escalated pressure on the European Union, urging member states to bypass a Hungarian veto blocking a critical €90 billion (US$103 billion) loan package for Ukraine. Speaking in Madrid alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Zelensky framed the issue as the "main issue" for an upcoming EU summit in Brussels, calling Hungary's position "blackmail" and "unfair." The loan, agreed upon before the end of 2025, is vital for Ukraine's ongoing defense and economic stability as the war continues.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest ally within the EU, has stalled the financial aid. A key point of contention is the status of the Druzhba oil pipeline, which supplies Russian oil to Hungary but has been closed in Ukraine since January due to damage from Russian strikes. The EU has offered to send experts to help repair the conduit, but the dispute over energy security and political alignment continues to hold the massive loan hostage, creating a significant rift within the bloc at a crucial moment.
- Hungary, led by Putin ally Viktor Orbán, is vetoing a €90B ($103B) EU loan to Ukraine.
- The blockade is partly over the closed Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian oil to Hungary.
- Zelensky calls the move 'blackmail' and urges the EU to find a way around the veto at this week's summit.
Why It Matters
The blocked $103B in aid threatens Ukraine's financial stability and exposes deep political fractures within the European Union.