Italian PM told EU leaders she understands Orbán's position on Ukraine – Politico
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has broken ranks with most EU leaders by expressing understanding for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has blocked a €90 billion loan to Ukraine.
Source: European Pravda, citing Politico
Details: During a closed-door session at an EU leaders' summit, Meloni told her counterparts she understands why Orbán broke his promise and blocked the €90 billion loan to Ukraine after approving it in December, according to five diplomats familiar with the confidential discussions.
The report notes that Meloni and Orbán are both right-wing politicians, but the Italian leader generally follows the EU's main policy line, while the Hungarian government is seen as obstructing its implementation.
Five diplomats representing four different European countries said that during the meeting, Meloni stressed she still personally supports immediately granting the loan to Ukraine but said she understands Orbán's position ahead of next month's elections.
One of the diplomats quoted Meloni as saying Orbán's stance is "normal" because "things change" and "if I were in the same situation, I would understand it".
According to the diplomats, Meloni also noted that the Hungarian prime minister had previously taken a constructive stance and could be expected to lift his veto if the Druzhba oil pipeline resumes operations.
At the same time, the Italian government denied these reports.
"The sentence attributed to the prime minister is totally baseless," an official from Meloni's office in Rome said.
Meanwhile, sources say most other EU leaders reacted with outrage on Thursday morning when it became clear Orbán had no intention of backing down.
European Council President António Costa criticised the move as "unacceptable" and an unprecedented breach of a "red line" in Orbán's behaviour.
Background:
- EU leaders held a discussion on 19 March on providing Ukraine with a €90 billion loan, but they failed to persuade Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán to lift his veto. Separately, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was criticised for making inappropriate remarks addressed to Orbán.
- Orbán said on the sidelines of a European Council meeting in Brussels that Hungary would not unblock any decision favourable to Ukraine until the Druzhba oil pipeline resumes transporting Russian oil.
- On Thursday 19 March, following its discussion of the Ukraine issue, the European Council adopted conclusions on Ukraine which were signed by 25 EU leaders, with the exception of Hungary and Slovakia.
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