Hungary signaled it will block the European Union’s latest sanctions package against Russia and a proposed €90-billion loan for Ukraine, deepening divisions within the bloc on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
As EU foreign ministers gathered in Brussels, Budapest hardened its stance amid a dispute over a prolonged outage of the Druzhba oil pipeline an interruption Hungary blames on Kyiv. The move threatens to derail the EU’s 20th sanctions package and stall urgently needed financial support for Ukraine.
Pipeline Dispute at the Core
Shipments of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline have been halted since January 27, after Kyiv said a Russian drone struck pipeline equipment on Ukrainian territory. Budapest and Bratislava argue Ukraine bears responsibility for the extended disruption, calling it a threat to their energy security.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wrote to European Council President Antonio Costa describing the outage as an “unprovoked act of hostility” and vowed to block the loan package until the issue is resolved. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto echoed the position, saying Kyiv’s actions were “hostile” and placing the onus on Ukraine to restore flows.
EU Pushback and Mounting Friction
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas acknowledged that agreement on new sanctions was unlikely at Monday’s meeting, though negotiations would continue. Germany and Poland urged Hungary to reconsider, warning that internal divisions risk weakening Europe’s unified stance against Moscow.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski criticized Budapest’s approach, invoking Hungary’s own experience of Soviet aggression in 1956 and expressing shock at what he described as diminishing solidarity with Ukraine.
Hungary and Slovakia have also threatened to halt emergency electricity exports to Ukraine if oil shipments are not restored, though operational data showed Slovak electricity supplies continuing on Monday.
War Intensifies Ahead of Anniversary
The diplomatic standoff unfolded as violence persisted in Ukraine. Russian drone attacks overnight killed two people and injured three in the southern Odesa region, according to emergency services. Ukraine’s infrastructure minister said port facilities were targeted, while Russia’s defence ministry claimed strikes on Ukrainian transport and energy infrastructure.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told the BBC that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had “already started” World War Three and warned that the global community must apply intense pressure to stop further territorial advances. Moscow, however, maintains its military campaign is defensive, aimed at countering what it calls Western hostility.
A Test of European Cohesion
Hungary’s stance highlights the growing strain within the EU as the war drags into its fourth year. While most member states remain committed to supporting Kyiv financially and militarily, Budapest’s objections—framed around energy security and domestic political considerations underscore the delicate balance between national interests and collective European policy.
With negotiations ongoing, the dispute over sanctions and the loan package risks becoming a broader test of the EU’s unity at a critical moment in the conflict.
With information from Reuters.
