BRUSSELS – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will face intense pressure from fellow European Union leaders during Thursday’s summit to end his obstruction of a critical $103 billion loan package designed to help Ukraine continue defending against Russia’s military assault.
While EU leadership reached consensus on the 90-billion-euro financial aid package back in December, Orban – known for maintaining friendly relations with Russia and frequently feuding with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy – halted the funding’s rollout last month over disagreements regarding a battle-damaged oil conduit.
The Druzhba pipeline, which transported Russian petroleum through Ukrainian territory to reach Hungary and Slovakia, sustained damage during a Russian strike in January, according to officials. Ukrainian authorities state repairs will require significant time, while Hungarian leadership claims the infrastructure is already operational.
During Thursday’s Brussels gathering, fellow leaders from the 27-member alliance plan to highlight Zelenskyy’s recent commitment to restore the pipeline using EU technical assistance and financial support, while urging Orban to abandon his opposition to the loan arrangement, diplomatic sources indicate.
Orban’s position has generated frustration among other EU leadership, as Kyiv faces potential financial shortfalls within weeks without additional funding. His reversal has also undermined confidence in the European Council, the union’s premier decision-making institution.
The Hungarian leader, a nationalist figure aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump amid his challenging reelection bid, has frequently challenged mainstream EU politicians but has not previously reversed agreements made among EU leadership, diplomats note.
“In December, we took a political decision – a political decision at the level of the European Council. Now is the time to deliver,” stated Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides on Wednesday.
“I don’t want to think of a scenario where the European Union decides something at the level of the European Council, at the level of 27 leaders, and this political decision is not implemented,” he remarked during a Brussels event hosted by the European Policy Centre think tank.
Numerous EU officials express particular frustration with Orban’s obstruction since he negotiated exemption from covering the loan’s expenses, alongside the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
However, Orban has demonstrated no indication of retreating from his position. “No oil deliveries? No money. It’s that simple,” he wrote on X Tuesday.
