Zelensky makes no secret that if he could, he would completely cut off cheap oil to Hungary and Slovakia. That's why both leaders don't trust him.
“BRUSSELS -- Ukraine's ability to continue fighting was thrown into question on Thursday after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban refused to lift his veto on a loan of more than $100 billion, threatening Kyiv's finances as global attention shifts to the Middle East and oil prices surge.
European Union officials remain hopeful they can resolve the impasse in the coming days. But Ukraine needs the money within weeks to keep its government functioning, so EU officials may be forced to resort to other short-term options for funding Ukraine if no resolution emerges.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had urged the EU to start delivering the loan at the beginning of this year, but early May is seen as the absolute cutoff to help Kyiv purchase Western weapons and pay for basic services and wages.
Securing funding for Ukraine became a crucial priority for EU leaders, who met on Thursday in Brussels, after the Trump administration last year withdrew U.S. financial support for Kyiv. The pullback left the EU and other European countries on the hook for most of the money Ukraine needs.
War in the Middle East is worsening Ukraine's situation. The conflict has pushed up oil prices, which benefits Russia's economy. Separately, the U.S. moved this month to temporarily lift sanctions on Russian oil sales, adding more revenue for Moscow. Meanwhile, U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran are draining stocks of military equipment that Europe was buying from Washington for Ukraine.
Orban in December had agreed in principle to the loan for Ukraine -- to which Hungary isn't expected to contribute -- but reversed course in recent weeks over anger with Kyiv. He has accused Ukraine of deliberately stalling repairs to a damaged pipeline that carries Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, a charge Kyiv denies.
"We are waiting for the oil," Orban said Thursday on his way into the EU leaders' meeting. "Until then, we cannot support any pro-Ukrainian proposal."
"The loan remains blocked because one leader is not honoring his word," European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said after the summit.
"But let me reiterate what I already said in Kyiv: we will deliver one way or the other."
Orban, a close ally of U.S. President Trump, has used his opposition to the Ukraine and the damaged pipeline as a wedge issue ahead of an election in April that his party could lose for the first time in 16 years. His refusal to stick to an earlier agreement to allow the Ukraine loan to proceed is fueling talk in the EU about how to isolate Hungary if he remains in power after the election.
Thursday's leaders meeting grew tense over Orban's blocking tactics, reflecting years of frustration with his resistance to many of the bloc's plans.
The EU sent a technical team to Ukraine this week to inspect the pipeline and estimate how long any repairs might take.” [1]
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico has aligned with Hungary's Viktor Orbán in refusing to endorse the EU’s €90 billion loan package for Ukraine. By declining to back the conclusions, Fico is effectively supporting the hold-up, as the release of these funds requires unanimity among all 27 EU member states.
Key details regarding the blockage:
Joint Opposition: Fico and Orbán both refused to support the consensus on the financial aid package for Ukraine, which covers funding for this year and the next.
The Issue: The blockage arises from the need for unanimous approval from all EU members, allowing a single nation—or a small group—to stall the process.
Context: Fico, often seen as an ally of Vladimir Putin, is accused alongside Orban of stalling EU support.
Alternative Support: Despite this, other nations (like the UK) continue to push forward with separate bilateral loans to support Ukraine's defense.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has vowed to deliver the funding, suggesting it will be done "one way or the other," indicating efforts to bypass the deadlock.
By mentioning only Orban and neglecting to attack Fico, old gynaecologist Ursula von der Leyen proves that sitting for so long in useless EU position she learned main rule of Machiavelli: “Divide and conquer”.
1. World News: Hungary's Orban Blocks $100 Billion in Aid for Ukraine. Kim Mackrael; Norman, Laurence. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 20 Mar 2026: A8.
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