Hungary blocks EU Ukraine loan, Russia sanctions on eve of war anniversary
France 24 Europe
by FRANCE 24February 23, 2026
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Hungary continued its opposition to new European Union sanctions against Russia and a proposed €90 billion loan package for Ukraine, further straining relations between Kyiv and Budapest. The veto came amid disputes over oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline, which has been disrupted since January 27. Slovakia also joined Hungary in refusing to provide emergency electricity to Ukraine until oil flows resume through the pipeline. Ukraine responded by targeting a Russian pumping station serving the pipeline with drone strikes, escalating tensions further.
The situation has created a significant challenge for Europe's unified stance on supporting Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban remains resistant to both the loan package and additional measures against Moscow, despite efforts by EU leaders like European Council President Antonio Costa to persuade him otherwise. Orban insists that Ukraine is responsible for the ongoing oil supply disruptions and has vowed not to support Kyiv until it addresses the issue.
The dispute over energy supplies has deepened divisions within the EU, with Slovakia and Hungary blaming Ukraine for the outage. Both countries have historically maintained closer ties with Russia compared to other EU nations, but their actions now
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Originally published on France 24 Europe on 2/23/2026