The Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo, has publicly criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for leveraging Ukraine in his election campaign and obstructing funding intended for Ukrainian projects. Orpo made these remarks ahead of a European Council meeting in Brussels.
“Orban is using Ukraine as a weapon in his election campaign, which is unacceptable. We had an agreement, and I feel he has deceived us. We need to find a way forward, and I am urging Ukraine and the Commission to resolve the pipeline issue and, most importantly, to secure funding for your major projects,” he stated.
Orpo expressed confidence in the European Commission and hopes for effective collaboration with Kyiv regarding the pipeline and the loan that would help Ukraine prepare for the upcoming winter and strengthen its financial stability.
Other European leaders, including Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, emphasized the necessity of financially supporting Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia.
“It is clear that Ukraine requires our full support to win this war against Russian aggression. This loan is crucial for Ukraine to prepare for the next winter. A decision has been made at the European level, and I expect everyone to respect it,” Jetten added.
De Wever also stressed the importance of providing the loan to Ukraine, describing it as a political decision that must be executed. He underscored the need for ongoing financial support for Ukraine and the reinforcement of pressure on Russia, noting that his country supports the 20th sanctions package.
The Prime Minister further asserted that Europe must be present at the negotiation table, arguing that it is not acceptable to fund a war while remaining disengaged from the negotiation process.
Hungary Blocks €90 Billion Loan to Ukraine
On February 20, it was reported that Hungary had blocked the disbursement of a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine due to the lack of oil transit from Russia through the Druzhba pipeline.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Kyiv had informed Budapest about Russian strikes on the Druzhba pipeline in Brody, Lviv region, and the resulting damages as early as January 27, asserting that the accusations of Ukraine delaying supplies are illogical.
Despite this, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto claimed during an EU Council meeting on February 23 that Russia had “not attacked” the Druzhba pipeline infrastructure, alleging that Ukraine had halted transit due to an “internal political decision.” The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry accused the Hungarian minister of making statements and taking actions that favor Russia.
On February 23, European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis informed the media that the EU is not discussing alternative options regarding the €90 billion loan to Ukraine that Hungary is blocking.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for using Ukraine in his election campaign and blocking crucial funding for Ukrainian projects. Other European leaders echoed the need for financial support for Ukraine while emphasizing the importance of maintaining pressure on Russia.