The European Union is not currently discussing alternative options for allocating a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine, which is being blocked by Hungary.
This was announced by European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis in an interview with a Suspilny correspondent.
“We are not discussing plan B at the moment. Right now we need to focus on taking all the necessary decisions to unblock this aid package for Ukraine. This is not the first time we have encountered difficulties with Hungary blocking certain decisions. So far we have always managed to unblock the situation, and I hope that this time we will also succeed,” said Valdis Dombrovskis.
According to him, the final agreement on the regulation on the loan in support of Ukraine will take place on February 24. This process is going according to plan and will allow for the completion of the political decision, after which the EU will work on further documents – the financing strategy for this year, the memorandum of understanding on the microfinance assistance program, and the loan agreement.
Dombrovskis stressed that changes to the EU's multiannual financial framework are necessary for borrowing at the Union level, but they do not create an immediate obstacle. “Obviously, it is important that we can unblock this situation,” he added.
He also recalled that in December, all EU leaders, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, agreed to provide Ukraine with this loan. Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic do not participate in the financial support directly, but are expected to adhere to the agreement reached.
Orban wrote a letter to European Council President Antonio Costa regarding a loan for Ukraine
Viktor Orbán said that since mid-February, Ukraine has refused to resume oil transportation via the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary for political reasons and in violation of its international obligations. In his opinion, this is an unjustified act of hostility that undermines Hungary's energy security.
“Until the situation changes, Hungary will not support the amendments to the regulation on the multiannual financial framework, which are necessary to use the EU budget reserve to provide a loan,” Viktor Orbán wrote.
Antonio Costa, in his response, informed Orban that he would raise the issue tomorrow during talks with President Zelensky. According to him, Ukraine presented a different version of the facts regarding the supply of crude oil to Hungary via Ukraine.
“In any case, the decision taken by the European Council must be respected. When leaders reach consensus, they are obliged to adhere to their decision. Any breach of this obligation is a violation of the principle of sincere cooperation. No member state can undermine the authority of decisions taken collegially by the European Council,” stressed António Costa.
He called on Viktor Orbán to act in accordance with our joint decision of December 18 and unblock the provision of a loan in support of Ukraine in the amount of 90 billion euros.
On February 20, it became known that Hungary blocked the allocation of an EU loan worth 90 billion euros to Ukraine due to the lack of oil transit from Russia through the Druzhba oil pipeline.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that Kyiv informed Budapest about the Russian shelling of the Druzhba oil pipeline in Brody, Lviv region, and the corresponding damage on January 27, and that Ukraine's accusations of delaying supplies are illogical.
Despite this, Peter Szijjártó stated at the EU Council meeting on February 23 that Russia “did not shell” the Druzhba oil pipeline infrastructure, and that Ukraine allegedly stopped transit due to an “internal political decision.” The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry accused the Hungarian minister of statements and actions in favor of Russia.