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Orbán Keeps Veto on €90 Billion Ukraine Aid, Linking Approval to Druzhba Pipeline Repair

EU leaders say they are pursuing pragmatic alternatives to get the money moving quickly.

Overview

  • Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten said the summit exchange with Viktor Orbán was “not gezellig” and labeled the repeated obstruction “schandalig.”
  • Hungary had backed the package in December but is now conditioning consent on repairs to the pipeline carrying Russian oil to Hungary.
  • Repairing the Druzhba line could take weeks, creating a risk that Ukraine will miss its stated need for funds by April.
  • Jetten said work is underway on very pragmatic solutions to free the money fast and insisted the support must be delivered one way or another.
  • Orbán remained unmoved by other leaders’ irritation and kept his veto in place during the Brussels summit.