Hungary threatens to block EU loan to Ukraine unless Russian oil shipments resume

Hungary is threatening to artifact a projected 90 billion-euro European Union indebtedness to Ukraine — worthy astir $106 cardinal — unless lipid shipments done the Druzhba pipeline are restored.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó wrote Friday connected X that Hungary would reason the EU backing bundle until lipid transit via the Russian-linked Druzhba pipeline resumes.

"Ukraine is blackmailing Hungary by halting lipid transit successful coordination with Brussels and the Hungarian absorption to make proviso disruptions successful Hungary and propulsion substance prices higher earlier the elections," Szijjártó said. 

He further claimed that blocking lipid transit violates the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and breaches Kyiv’s commitments to the European Union.

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Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto speaks during a league of Russian Energy Week successful Moscow, Russia, connected Oct. 15, 2025. (Ramil Sitdikov/Reuters)

The Druzhba pipeline has agelong been a cardinal way for Russian lipid deliveries to parts of Central Europe, including Hungary, adjacent arsenic overmuch of the EU has moved to curb reliance connected Russian vigor pursuing Moscow’s 2022 full-scale penetration of Ukraine.

The European Commission successful January adopted a legislative bundle to instrumentality a antecedently agreed 90 billion-euro indebtedness to Ukraine for 2026 and 2027, aimed astatine supporting the country’s budgetary and subject needs, according to a property release.

The fiscal commitment, known arsenic the "Ukraine Support Loan," would beryllium structured arsenic a constricted recourse loan, with astir 60 cardinal euros allocated for subject assistance and 30 cardinal designated for wide fund support.

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A wide presumption of Hungarian lipid institution MOL’s Duna Refinery adjacent Szazhalombatta, astir 30 kilometers southbound of Budapest, connected May 5, 2022. (Attila Kisbenedek/AFP via Getty Images)

The Commission said the backing is intended to assistance Ukraine support indispensable authorities functions, bolster its defence capabilities and fortify resilience arsenic the warfare with Russia continues.

The indebtedness would beryllium financed done communal EU borrowing connected superior markets and guaranteed by the EU budget. The Commission besides noted that the EU reserves the close to usage immobilized Russian assets wrong the bloc, successful accordance with EU and planetary law, to repay the loan.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs connected Saturday rejected what it called "ultimatums and blackmail" from the governments of Hungary and Slovakia implicit vigor supplies, accusing some countries of taking actions that are "provocative, irresponsible, and endanger the vigor information of the full region."

The Druzhba lipid pipeline betwixt Hungary and Russia astatine the MOL Group’s Danube Refinery successful Szazhalombatta, Hungary, connected May 18, 2022. (Bernadett Szabo/Reuters)

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"Ukraine is successful changeless interaction with representatives of the European Commission regarding the harm to Ukrainian vigor infrastructure caused by regular Russian strikes. We person besides provided accusation astir the consequences of these Russian attacks connected the Druzhba lipid pipeline infrastructure to the governments of Hungary and Slovakia," the ministry said successful a statement. "Security and stabilization repair enactment continues amid regular threats of caller rocket attacks. Ukraine has besides projected alternate ways to resoluteness the contented of supplying non-Russian lipid to these countries."

It added that Ukraine remains a "reliable vigor partner" to the European Union and argued that "ultimatums should beryllium sent to the Kremlin, and surely not to Kyiv."