Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Hungary will refuse to support a final European Union decision on the 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine, linking the move to an ongoing dispute over energy supplies and broader political concerns.
Speaking at a press conference in Brussels after the EU Summit on Friday, Orbán said Hungary had previously agreed to a compromise under which it would not participate financially in the loan but would allow other member states to proceed. The arrangement, which also involved the Czech Republic and Slovakia, was reached in December, when oil deliveries through the Druzhba oil pipeline were still ongoing.
He said the situation changed after Ukraine restricted oil transit, arguing that Hungary could not be expected to proceed with the agreement under altered circumstances. ‘If there is no oil, there is no money,’ Orbán said, describing energy supply as a fundamental national interest.
According to the prime minister, Hungary had the option to block the original agreement but chose instead to allow the loan to go ahead without taking on financial obligations. However, he indicated that Budapest would now withhold its approval for the remaining procedural steps required to finalize the arrangement.
Orbán argued that EU member states wishing to support Ukraine should do so from their own national budgets rather than through joint borrowing mechanisms. He said such an approach would make financial responsibilities more transparent to citizens.
Referring to Ukraine’s leadership, Orbán cited statements by Zelenskyy on energy transit policy, saying these reinforced Hungary’s concerns about the reliability of supply routes.
The prime minister also addressed criticism from other European leaders, saying Hungary would not alter its position under political pressure. He added that while disagreements remain within the EU, member states had broadly expressed solidarity with Hungary regarding what he described as unacceptable external pressure from a non-EU country.
Orbán also warned of broader challenges facing Europe, including the risk of renewed migration flows linked to instability in the Middle East. He pointed to the presence of millions of displaced people in the region and said further escalation could lead to increased migration towards Europe via Türkiye and the Balkans.
He cautioned against repeating the policy mistakes of 2015 and noted that some EU member states are now advocating stricter migration controls similar to those implemented by Hungary.
On energy, Orbán said recent developments affecting global supply could result in a prolonged energy crisis. He added that Hungarian authorities would convene economic and energy security bodies to assess potential impacts and prepare responses.
Turning to EU finances, the prime minister said Hungary would not support a new long-term EU budget until previously withheld funds are disbursed. He also rejected the use of conditionality mechanisms tied to access to EU resources, calling for a realistic budget framework.
Orbán further argued that Europe’s economic competitiveness is weakening compared with major global economies such as the United States, China and India, and criticized the lack of concrete decisions at the summit to address issues such as high energy prices.
He said Hungary would continue to defend its position in ongoing EU negotiations, emphasizing that the government views its stance as legally sound, politically justified and aligned with national interests.
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