Hungary and Slovakia Block EU Sanctions and Ukraine Loan
Hungary and Slovakia vetoed a 20th EU sanctions package and a 90-billion-euro loan to Ukraine over a dispute regarding Russian oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline.
On February 23, 2026, Viktor Orbán and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico blocked the European Union's 20th sanctions package against Russia and a 90-billion-euro loan intended for Ukraine's military and economic needs. The deadlock centers on the Druzhba pipeline, which has been offline since January 27. Hungary and Slovakia claim Ukraine is deliberately withholding Russian oil for political reasons, while the Government of Ukraine maintains that Russian drone strikes damaged the infrastructure near Brody.
In retaliation, Slovakia halted emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine on February 23 after an ultimatum expired. Hungary suspended diesel shipments and released 250,000 tonnes of oil from strategic reserves to mitigate the shortage. Ukraine's national power company, Ukrenergo, stated the electricity cuts would have no practical impact on its system, as it continues to import power from other EU neighbors.
EU leadership, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, condemned the vetoes as a breach of the principle of sincere cooperation. Other member states suggested the blockade is politically motivated ahead of Hungary's April parliamentary elections. Despite the budget block, Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis stated that technical preparations to disburse the first tranche of the loan in April remain on track. The standoff coincided with the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion, during which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged allies to maintain support and challenged U.S. President Donald Trump to visit Ukraine.
