Hungary Poses Unexpected Hurdle to Europe’s 90-Billion Euro Loan to Ukraine

NYT Homepage

by Jeanna Smialek

February 20, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Hungary has unexpectedly blocked the European Union’s plan to provide a 90-billion-euro loan to Ukraine, creating a significant hurdle for efforts to deliver much-needed financial aid. During a meeting of EU ambassadors, Hungary raised objections over the loan package, which would be funded through debt backed by the E.U. budget. The delay could complicate the process of funneling funds to Ukraine, which is crucial for its ongoing war with Russia. Hungary’s foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto, confirmed the country’s opposition on social media, linking it directly to the disruption of oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline. This pipeline transports Russian crude oil to Hungary and Slovakia, but has been experiencing disruptions following what Ukraine claims are Russian attacks. Hungary accuses Ukraine of deliberately restricting oil transit in coordination with Brussels, calling it a form of blackmail. Szijjarto emphasized that Hungary will not relent to this pressure, suggesting the loan package is tied to resolving the pipeline issue. The situation highlights deeper tensions within the E.U. over how to balance energy dependencies and support for Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion. While the delay may be procedural, it underscores Hungary’s leverage in EU decision-making and raises questions about the bloc’s ability to act swiftly and uniformly on issues critical to member states. The outcome of this diplomatic standoff could have broader implications for E.U. unity and its approach to addressing the war in Ukraine.

Verticals

newsgeneral

Originally published on NYT Homepage on 2/20/2026