EU to push Ukraine loan ‘one way or the other’ – von der Leyen

Hungary continues to block the €90 billion loan as Italy’s Giorgia Meloni reportedly expressed support for Budapest’s stance

The EU will provide a controversial loan to Ukraine “one way or another,” despite it remaining blocked by Hungary, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday.

Budapest vetoed the EU’s €90 billion ($105 billion) emergency loan for Ukraine after Kiev halted Russian oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline – a key supply route to Hungary and Slovakia.

“We will deliver on the loan one way or the other,” von der Leyen told reporters during a visit to Kiev. The remarks followed a summit in Brussels on Thursday, where EU leaders failed to persuade Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to lift his veto.

Orban, who faces an election next month, has repeatedly accused Kiev of deliberately halting supplies for political reasons and said this week he would block the loan until the oil supplies resume. “If there is no oil, there is no money,” he said.

EU officials, who have so far avoided direct confrontation, have increased the pressure on the Hungarian leader, condemning Budapest’s “unacceptable” resistance during their meeting in Brussels. EU Council President Antonio Costa said, “no one can blackmail the European Council.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called Orban’s veto an “act of serious disloyalty.”

Read more

Officials in Brussels are reportedly considering stripping Hungary of its voting rights to push through the loan for Kiev.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni broke ranks with most EU leaders, expressing understanding for Orban’s position during closed-door talks on Thursday, according to Politico. At the meeting, she reaffirmed her support for the loan while reportedly signaled her understanding for Orban, the outlet said, citing diplomats from four countries.

One diplomat reportedly said Meloni described Orban’s stance as “normal” because “things are changing,” adding: “If I were in the same situation, I would understand him.” The Italian government denied the remarks, with an official in Rome calling the attribution “completely unfounded.”

The dispute has deepened a feud between Kiev and Budapest, escalating into personal threats by Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky against Orban. Hungary has long clashed with Ukraine, opposing its EU and NATO bids and resisting funding for its war effort against Russia.