Prime Minister Viktor Orbán continues to stall on new financial aid for Ukraine. At the recent EU Council meeting in Brussels, a joint paper on the Ukraine conflict received “strong support” from only 25 of the 27 heads of state and government. Hungary, along with Slovakia, is blocking the fresh money package for Kyiv.
Before the Brussels talks, Orbán had already announced that Hungary would withhold the loan until Russian oil can again flow through Ukraine to Hungarian pipelines. He accuses Ukraine of obstructing repairs to the line, an allegation Kyiv denies and says it is open to restoring the flow.
The European Council also held talks with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Selenskyj. In December 2025, the leaders agreed to grant Ukraine a €90 billion support loan for 2026‑2027, with an initial disbursement planned for early April. In addition, third‑country lenders are expected to help close a remaining €30 billion funding gap for Ukraine.