Hungary's foreign minister says country will block key EU loan to Ukraine until Russian oil shipments resume
PBS • • world
Key Points:
- Hungary will block a planned 90-billion-euro EU loan to Ukraine until Russian oil shipments through the Druzhba pipeline resume, citing Ukraine's failure to restart supplies as "blackmail."
- The Druzhba pipeline, carrying Russian crude through Ukraine to Central Europe, has been interrupted since January 27 due to damage from a suspected Russian drone attack, affecting Hungary and Slovakia.
- Hungary and Slovakia, both exempt from the EU's ban on Russian oil imports, have accused Ukraine of deliberately holding up supplies without evidence and have stopped diesel shipments to Ukraine in response.
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán opposes EU sanctions on Russia and argues that Russian fossil fuels are essential for Hungary's economy, threatening to veto further EU support for Ukraine.
