RFE
20 Mar 2026, 06:40 GMT+10
Despite the opposition of Hungary, the European Union will find ways to deliver the promised 90 billion euro ($104.2 billion) loan to Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said early on March 20.
"We will deliver one way or the other," von der Leyen told reporters after a Brussels summit where EU leaders failed to convince Russia-friendly Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to lift his veto on the crucial EU loan to Kyiv.
EU Council President Antonio Costa condemned the "unacceptable" resistance by the far-right Hungarian nationalist leader after a previous unanimous vote.
SEE ALSO:
EU To Send Team To Druzhba In Bid To Lift Hungarian-Slovak Vetoes
"A deal is a deal, we need to honor our word. And no one can blackmail the European Council," Costa said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the European Commission had been asked by leaders to find ways to pay out the loan and called Orban's veto an unprecedented "act of serious disloyalty."
"This will leave its mark," Merz said. "This is a serious violation of the principle of loyalty of the member states amongst each other, and it damages the standing of the European Union."
French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned Hungarys actions.
The unanimous agreement on the loan "must be respected and implemented without delay, in accordance with the principle of loyal cooperation," Macron said.
A joint statementby 25 of the EU's 27 members said that the bloc's leaders "look forward to the first disbursement to Ukraine by the beginning of April" as planned.
SEE ALSO:
Wider Europe Briefing: Hungary, Slovakia Toying With Russia Sanctions Renewal
Should Orban not relent, expert say European countries individually could theoretically provide the necessary guarantees instead of using the joint EU budget to secure the loan -- which requires unanimous approval.
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, also with friendly relations with Moscow, also refrained from supporting the statement.
Orban said his government will maintain its veto on the loan, and on the EU's 20th sanction package against Moscow, until Russian oil deliveries through Ukraine resume through the contested Druzhba pipeline.
SEE ALSO:
Wider Europe Briefing: A Crucial Slovenian Vote And A Sticky EU Summit For Ukraine
"I will never support any kind of decision here which is in favor of Ukraine," Orban said. "The Hungarian position is very simple. We are ready to support Ukraine when we get our oil, which is blocked by them."
Russian oil flowed through the Druzhba pipeline via Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia until it was damaged by a Russian strike in January, according to Ukraine.
The stoppage of fuel deliveries further raised tensions between Budapest and Kyiv, which has said necessary repairs would take another six weeks.
With reporting by Reuters and dpaEU VowsToGet $90 Billion LoanToKyiv Despite Hungarys Opposition
Share
ShareCopy link
X (Twitter)
Share
ShareCopy link
X (Twitter)
Get a daily dose of Kenya Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Kenya Star.
More InformationNew Delhi [India], March 20 (ANI): Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has said that India values its partnership...
(260319) -- NAROK COUNTY, March 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President William Ruto unveils the commemorative plaque during the groundbreaking...
Beijing and Moscow are both close partners of Tehran. With the US-Israeli strikes approaching a third week and Iran retaliating across...
New Delhi [India], March 19 (ANI): The swashbuckling Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) batter, Abhishek Sharma, who took the Indian Premier...
By Shailesh Yadav New Delhi [India], March 19 (ANI): India will safeguard its agriculture and fisheries interests at the upcoming...
(260319) -- ADDIS ABABA, March 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A pedestrian walks past a gas station in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on March 17, 2026....
While breaking news stories capture our attention-North Korea's recent launching of 10 ballistic missiles grabbed headlines-there's...
Denmark prepared contingency measures in January for a possible U.S. military move against Greenland, including sending blood supplies...
Despite the opposition of Hungary, the European Union will find ways to deliver the promised 90 billion euro ($104.2 billion) loan...
Jerusalem [Israel], March 20 (ANI): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday (local time) claimed that after 20 days of...
Washington DC [US], March 20 (ANI): Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday (local time) raised concerns over the deteriorating...
Washington DC [US], March 20 (ANI): United States President Donald Trump said his administration may seek about USD 200 billion in...
