Institutional Breach: European Council President Rebukes Hungary Over Ukraine Aid Reversal

European Council President António Costa has issued a sharp rebuke to Viktor Orbán, accusing Hungary of violating the principle of "sincere cooperation" by blocking a previously agreed-upon €90 billion loan for Ukraine.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 24, 2026, 11:12 AM EST

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Politico

The December Consensus and the February Veto

The current friction stems from a sudden reversal of Budapest’s position regarding the "Ukraine Support Loan," a €90 billion package intended to cover Ukraine’s financing needs for the 2026–2027 period. Although Orbán had initially supported the loan during the December 19, 2025, summit—securing an opt-out from financial guarantees for Hungary—his government effectively vetoed the implementation of the deal in February 2026.

Budapest justified the reversal by citing an "unprovoked act of hostility" from Ukraine, specifically regarding the slow repair of the Druzhba oil pipeline, which supplies Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Orbán’s letter to Brussels on February 23 stated that recent events forced him to "reconsider" his position, effectively holding the EU’s multi-billion euro aid package hostage to bilateral energy grievances.

Costa’s Rebuttal: Violating "Sincere Cooperation"

António Costa’s response, sent on February 23 and reported by several outlets including Politico and Euronews, marked a rare public display of frustration from the Council President. Costa emphasized that "when leaders reach a consensus, they are bound by their decision." He characterized Hungary’s actions as a violation of the "principle of sincere cooperation" and a direct threat to the institutional integrity of the European Council.

The Council President further noted that Kyiv’s account of the pipeline suspension differs significantly from Budapest’s, and he stressed that energy disputes should not serve as grounds for blocking humanitarian and military aid. Costa is reportedly planning to raise the issue directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to mediate the pipeline dispute, while simultaneously pressuring Orbán to honor the December commitment.