On March 20, the European Union (EU) will seek to disburse a 90 billion euro (104.2 billion USD) loan package to Ukraine despite Hungary's prolonged protests, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen announced.
We will do it one way or another" - Ms. von der Leyen said after a conference in Brussels, as EU leaders have not been able to convince Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to lift the veto, causing the loan to continue to be delayed.
EU leaders condemned Hungary's "unacceptable" protests at the meeting, European Council (EC) President Antonio Costa said.
The agreement is an agreement, we need to keep our word. No one can put pressure on the European Council" - Mr. Costa said.
According to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, leaders have asked the European Commission (EC) to find a solution to disburse the loan, and called Mr. Orban's veto power an unprecedented "serious dishonesty".
This will leave consequences. This is a serious violation of the principle of loyalty between member states and harms the position of the European Union," the German leader said.
Previously, on March 19, EU leaders were said to have joined forces to put strong pressure on Mr. Orban at the summit on the same day, to force him to lift the blockade of the important loan package for Ukraine so that this country could continue to cope with Russia's military campaign.
This loan was agreed upon by most EU members from December 2025, but Mr. Orban blocked the implementation in January 2026, on the grounds of controversy related to the Druzhba oil pipeline damaged by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Druzhba pipeline - a Russian oil transport route through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia - was damaged after an attack in January 2026, according to local officials. Ukraine said the delay in resuming the oil flow was due to the need for repair time, while Hungary affirmed that the route was ready to operate.
Mr. Orban's stance has angered many EU leaders, in the context that Kiev may soon run out of money in the next few weeks if it does not receive new funding. This move also raises suspicions about the credibility of the European Council - the EU's highest decision-making body.
However, Prime Minister Orban has so far shown no signs of compromising. "No oil? No money. That's it" - the Hungarian leader wrote on X social network on March 17.
