Hungary blocks new EU sanctions on Russia and loan to Ukraine

Budapest has blocked new EU sanctions against Russia and extensive financial assistance for Kyiv, a step previously announced by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó. The dispute centres on the Druzhba oil pipeline, which continues to supply Hungary and Slovakia with Russian crude and whose operation has been disrupted by attacks and technical problems.

Following the latest Ukrainian drone strike on a pumping station in Russia, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Hungary would not be blackmailed and would veto the €90 billion loan until supplies were restored. Kyiv responded that the two countries were jeopardising the unity of the EU.

European Council President António Costa called on Orbán to honour the agreement on the €90 billion loan to Ukraine, which EU leaders approved in December. He noted that decisions adopted by consensus are binding on member states.

Breaching such a commitment, he warned, would weaken the principle of loyal co-operation on which the EU is founded. At the same time, he stressed that no country may undermine the credibility of the European Council’s joint decisions.

(reuters, mja)