Hungary Blocks €90B EU Loan for Ukraine Over Oil Dispute

Is Ukraine blackmailing Hungary with oil transit or is Hungary blocking aid while blaming the victim of Russian aggression?

Published 3 hours ago

Hungary Blocks €90B EU Loan for Ukraine Over Oil Dispute

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Above: Péter Szijjártó in Budapest, Hungary, on Feb. 11, 2026. Image credit: Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-government narrative

Ukraine is blackmailing Hungary by deliberately halting oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline in coordination with Brussels and domestic opposition forces to spike fuel prices right before elections. This blatant violation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement cannot stand, and blocking the €90 billion loan is the only leverage available to stop this coordinated attack on Hungarian energy security.

Peter Szijjarto on X

Robert Fico on X

Government-critical narrative

Russia damaged the Druzhba pipeline with unprovoked strikes while Ukraine struggles through brutal winter conditions with destroyed energy infrastructure. Hungary's veto demonstrates the absurdity of allowing one state to block critical EU action based on false narratives that blame the victim instead of the aggressor. The principle of unanimity enables immature, irrational governance that prioritizes narrow electoral interests over collective security.

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Donald Tusk on X