EU countries furious at Hungary over plan to block Russia sanctions and Ukraine loan

Politico Europe · Feb 23, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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News Politics EU’s top diplomats “really upset and frustrated” over Budapest’s stonewalling. "I am astounded about the Hungarian position,” Johann Wadephul told reporters. | John Thys/AFP via Getty Images February 23, 2026 11:48 am CET BRUSSELS — European foreign ministers took multiple swipes at Hungary on Monday over Budapest’s plan to block the EU’s latest round of sanctions against Russia. The bloc’s top diplomats gathered in Brussels to discuss approving the 20th package of sanctions against Moscow. The EU had hoped to get the package approved in time for Tuesday, the fourth anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa will head to Kyiv to mark the occasion. But Budapest vowed in advance to block the measures unless Kyiv allows Russian oil deliveries to continue flowing to Hungary and neighboring Slovakia. Ukrainian authorities said the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies oil to the two Central European countries, was damaged by a Russian strike on Jan. 27. Hungary and Slovakia are claiming Kyiv is intentionally not restarting the pipeline. Hungary is also threatening to block the €90 billion loan agreed by EU leaders in December, which is key to Ukraine’s wartime survival. That’s earned the ire of Ukraine’s allies in the EU. “I am astounded about the Hungarian position,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told reporters as he headed into the Foreign Affairs Council. “I don’t think it’s right if Hungary uses its own fight for freedom to betray European sovereignty.” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said he was “really upset and frustrated” with Hungary, adding that Budapest’s reasons “are not based in European needs, they are not based in European security interests.” Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski castigated Hungary for forgetting what it’s like to resist a Russian invasion, apparently referring to Soviet troops marching on Budapest in 1956. “The thing that shocks me fundamentally is that while Ukraine is defending itself against the might of the Russian army, Hungarians used to understand what it’s like … I would’ve expected a much greater feeling of solidarity from Hungary for Ukraine,” he said. Instead, he alleged Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has painted Kyiv as the enemy, and “now is trying to exploit that” narrative to win an April general election. Orbán, who has been in power for almost two decades, is trailing in the polls against an ascendant opposition. While Wadephul said he would “urge [Hungary] to rethink their position” in today’s meeting, and Budrys called for an “open and honest discussion,” several foreign ministers expressed skepticism that they would be able to sway Budapest anytime soon. The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, warned: “I think there is not going to be progress regarding this today, but we will definitely make this push.” Romania Foreign Minister Oana-Silvia Țoiu concurred. “I’m not sure if it’s gonna be tomorrow or this week,” she said, referring to approving the sanctions. But she added more optimistically: “We have seen similar situations in the past and we have overcome them. That is why it’s called the 20th package of sanctions.” Hungary has blocked previous packages of sanctions against Russia and tranches of aid for Ukraine, but has ultimately begrudgingly backed off in exchange for concessions. “I hope that Europe can deliver, that tomorrow it won’t be the situation when we will be saying, ‘We are sorry, 20th package is not there,’” Budrys said. Milena Wälde contributed to this report.