European Council President António Costa Denounces Hungarian Prime Minister for Obstruction of 90 Billion Euro Ukraine Loan

European Council President António Costa blasts Viktor Orbán’s "unacceptable" veto of a €90 billion Ukraine loan, vowing to bypass Hungarian blackmail.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 20, 2026, 11:51 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Interfax-Ukraine

The Midnight Confrontation in Brussels

The European Council meeting held between Thursday and Friday reached a flashpoint as EU leaders collectively turned their focus on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. President António Costa reported that the chamber was nearly unanimous in its condemnation of Orbán’s decision to halt a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine, a package that had previously been agreed upon by consensus on December 18. Costa used the late-night press conference to remind the Hungarian leadership that an agreement made within the Council must be honored, stating that the credibility of the entire institution depends on members keeping their word.

Defying Tactical Blackmail Within EU Institutions

A central theme of Costa’s address was the refusal of the European Union to be held hostage by the veto power of a single member state. The President of the European Council stated firmly that nobody can blackmail the Council or the broader institutions of the European Union. He echoed sentiments from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, suggesting that the bloc is prepared to implement the 90 billion euro package "one way or another," with or without Hungary's cooperation. This rhetoric signals a potential shift toward utilizing alternative legal mechanisms to bypass national blockades on essential foreign aid.

The Druzhba Pipeline Dispute and Energy Security

Viktor Orbán has officially attributed his obstruction to Ukraine’s alleged interference with Russian oil supplies flowing through the Druzhba pipeline, famously declaring a policy of "no oil, no funds." However, Costa countered this narrative by highlighting that Ukraine has shown significant commitment to repairing the pipeline, which has been repeatedly targeted by Russian strikes. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly committed to completing repairs within the next six weeks, despite the infrastructure being attacked by Russia 23 times to date. Costa emphasized that the responsibility for the pipeline's failure lies solely with Moscow, not Kyiv.