Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has reaffirmed his decision to obstruct the disbursement of €90 billion in aid to Ukraine, as outlined in a letter sent to European Council President Charles Michel on February 23.
In his correspondence, Orbán referenced a December 18 EU summit where leaders, unable to reach an agreement on a reparations loan, ultimately consented to allocate the funds from the European Union’s budget reserve. Hungary, along with Slovakia and the Czech Republic, had previously accepted this arrangement without objection, having secured an exemption from contributing. However, Orbán has since expressed dissatisfaction with this agreement.
Orbán’s letter highlights recent developments that prompted a reassessment of Hungary’s position. He stated that since mid-February, Ukraine has ceased the transport of crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary due to political reasons and alleged violations of international obligations. Orbán characterized this cessation as an unprovoked act of hostility that jeopardizes Hungary’s energy security.
He reiterated his threat to keep the substantial credit to Ukraine in a blocked state until the oil transit through Druzhba is reinstated. Orbán emphasized, “As long as this situation persists, Hungary will not support amendments to the regulations concerning the multiannual financial framework necessary for utilizing the EU budget reserve for the loan arrangement.”
Implementing the changes Orbán mentioned requires unanimous agreement from all EU member states; without this consensus, the proposed loan cannot be executed. A special session of the European Parliament is scheduled for February 24 to formally approve the aid, coinciding with the anniversary of the Russian invasion.
Ukraine anticipates receiving the first tranche of the €90 billion loan in spring 2026. Ukrainian officials and the European Commission have warned that any delays in funding could lead to a critical financial situation.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has confirmed plans to block €90 billion in aid to Ukraine, citing political tensions and energy security concerns. His stance complicates the EU's efforts to finalize the loan arrangement amid ongoing geopolitical challenges.