Orbán Faces EU Pressure Over Ukraine Loan Veto Ahead of Summit
Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán refuses to back down on blocking a vital €90bn loan for Ukraine, amid dispute over a damaged Russian oil pipeline.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is set to face intense pressure from other European Union leaders to drop his veto on a critical €90 billion loan for Ukraine at the upcoming EU summit. Orbán, who is facing domestic elections next month, has shown no signs of backing down from his position, insisting that the loan will not be approved until the damaged Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline supplying Hungary with Russian oil through Ukraine is repaired.
High-Stakes Dispute
The dispute over the loan has become a major point of contention within the EU, with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urging European leaders to resolve the issue. The loan is seen as a vital lifeline for Ukraine as it continues to grapple with the economic fallout of the ongoing Russian invasion. However, Orbán's hardline stance on the pipeline issue has put him at odds with his fellow EU members, who are eager to provide financial support to Ukraine.
Source: The Guardian
