Hungary's decision to block a €90bn EU loan for Ukraine has provoked sharp criticism from fellow European leaders and exposed deep divisions ahead of next month's Hungarian elections.
After a tense summit in Brussels, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán refused to lift his veto, posting on X: "No oil = no money." He linked his move to a dispute over a damaged section of the Druzhba pipeline that carries Russian oil to Hungary via Ukraine.
EU figures reacted angrily.
Germany's Friedrich Merz described the veto as a "gross act of disloyalty," while European Council chief António Costa called the tactic tantamount to "blackmail." French President Emmanuel Macron called the outcome "unprecedented" and urged that the funds be disbursed without delay.
Orbán argues Hungary's energy supplies depend on the pipeline and blames Kyiv for failing to repair damage Kyiv says was caused by Russian strikes in January.
Ukrainian officials warn repairs will take weeks and have said restarting flow would effectively loosen sanctions on Moscow.
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico also declined to endorse the summit conclusions, complicating efforts to achieve the unanimity needed to release the funds.
Leaders agreed only to revisit the issue at their next meeting.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged that the loan would be delivered "one way or the other," while Macron insisted there would be "no plan B," saying the original plan must be implemented.
Volodymyr Zelensky had appealed directly to EU leaders before the summit, stressing that the €90bn package is a vital security guarantee for Ukraine and a lifeline for protecting lives.
Orbán, who has maintained warm ties with Russia since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, has repeatedly delayed EU aid and opposed further sanctions on Moscow.
His stance has become a prominent theme in Hungary's campaign as voters head to the polls on 12 April.
The dispute left many leaders visibly frustrated after a late-night session, underscoring how energy concerns, domestic politics, and the war in Ukraine are colliding at the heart of European decision-making.
