Hungary's Orbán threatens further anti-Ukraine measures over Russian oil dispute
NBC News • • world
Key Points:
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán threatened further actions against Ukraine to force the resumption of Russian oil deliveries halted since January, citing Hungary's strategic control over 40% of Ukraine's electricity supply.
- Orbán blocked a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine and warned he would veto the EU’s next seven-year budget if it includes financial aid for Kyiv, leveraging Hungary's position to influence EU decisions.
- The dispute centers on the Druzhba pipeline, where oil shipments were interrupted after Ukraine claimed Russian drone damage, while Hungary accuses Ukraine of deliberately creating an oil blockade.
- Hungary and Slovakia remain the only EU countries importing Russian oil, with Orbán using the crisis to push an anti-Ukraine narrative ahead of Hungary’s tight April 12
