Hungary will block a major EU loan to Ukraine until Russian oil shipments resume
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Hungary will block a planned €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine until Russian oil shipments via the Druzhba pipeline resume, citing a halt in oil flow since a January drone attack damaged the pipeline.
- Hungary and Slovakia, both exempt from the EU ban on Russian oil imports, accuse Ukraine of deliberately obstructing oil supplies, leading both countries to stop diesel shipments to Ukraine.
- Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó accused Ukraine of blackmail and stated Hungary will block EU decisions favorable to Ukraine until oil supplies are restored.
- Hungary and Slovakia have maintained Russian energy imports despite most of Europe reducing or ending them since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Hungary emphasizing its economic reliance on Russian fossil fuels.
- Slovakia warned it
