Orbán: Ukraine will resume Druzhba oil supplies on Monday if Hungary unblocks €90bn loan

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said Ukraine is willing to resume oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline on 20 April on condition that Budapest unblocks the EU loan of €90 billion.

Source: Orbán on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Orbán reiterated his position that he will unblock the loan only after Russian oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline are restored.

Quote: "Through Brussels, we have received an indication from Ukraine that they are ready to restore oil deliveries via the Friendship [Druzhba] pipeline as early as Monday, provided that Hungary lifts its blockade of the €90 billion EU loan. Hungary's position has not changed: no oil = no money. Once oil deliveries are restored, we will no longer stand in the way of approving the loan. The disbursement of the loan does not impose a financial burden or obligation on Hungary."

Background: Following the defeat of Orbán's party in the elections on 12 April, the European Union is hoping for the earliest possible unblocking of the €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine and the 20th EU sanctions package against Russia. Orbán has been blocking the approval of these initiatives, accusing Ukraine of stopping the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline.

Hungary's incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar indicated that he will not block the €90bn EU loan for Ukraine, as the decision has already been made, although he confirmed that Budapest will not participate in it.

It was also reported that Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha will join a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 21 April in Luxembourg to discuss prospects for unblocking a €90 billion loan for 2026-2027.

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