Hungarian chief sparks EU outrage with veto on $103bn Ukraine assist, citing pipeline dispute amid tense election marketing campaign.
Printed On 19 Mar 2026
European Union leaders, assembly for a summit in Brussels, have piled strain on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, accusing him of hijacking and blocking an important assist package deal for Ukraine and undermining EU decision-making as Russia’s struggle on its neighbour is now in its fifth 12 months, with any peace deal remaining elusive.
The EU’s high diplomat warned on Thursday that it was pressing to point out assist for Ukraine’s struggle effort.
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“It’s actually, actually time to point out our assist to Ukraine,” Kaja Kallas advised reporters on arrival at EU summit talks the place leaders hope to unlock the 90-billion-euro ($103bn) funding, which Hungary had signed as much as in December together with the remainder of the 27-member bloc.
EU leaders agreed to the $103bn mortgage in December, however Orban has clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and blocked its implementation final month, citing a dispute over a war-damaged pipeline.
Orban, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s key ally in an unfriendly bloc, has taken a stance that has angered different EU leaders, as Kyiv may run wanting cash in weeks if it doesn’t obtain new funding. His U-turn has referred to as into query the credibility of the European Council, the EU’s highest decision-making physique.
A number of leaders arriving on the summit mentioned Orban, who faces a tough election subsequent month, needed to persist with the December deal and cease blocking the mortgage.
“He’s utilizing Ukraine as a weapon in his election marketing campaign, and it’s not good,” Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo mentioned, accusing Orban of betraying fellow EU leaders.
Orban, a strident right-wing nationalist admired by United States President Donald Trump, is trailing in opinion polls forward of elections on April 12.
A part of his election marketing campaign has been to painting Zelenskyy as an existential risk to Hungary.
On the summit, leaders are anticipated to level to an settlement by Zelenskyy this week to repair the Druzhba pipeline with EU technical assist and funding, and to attempt to persuade Orban to drop his opposition to the mortgage, diplomats say.
The pipeline carried Russian oil via Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia however was broken by a Russian assault in January, officers say. Ukraine says it is going to take a while to restore. Hungary says it’s already able to function.
