Hungary Uses Defense Loan as Leverage to Block EU Russia Sanctions
Hungary is blocking the EU’s 20th sanctions package on Russia to pressure Brussels to approve its €16 billion SAFE defense loan, with Viktor Orbán threatening to veto both Moscow sanctions and a €90 billion Ukraine loan until Kyiv restarts oil flows via a pipeline damaged in a Russian attack. EU diplomats say Budapest may continue the veto until the defense loan is approved, while the Commission slow-walks a €2.4 billion initial payment amid Hungary’s election season and ongoing rule-of-law funding disputes.