German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the actions of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in blocking the allocation of a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine.
Friedrich Merz made this statement after the EU Council meeting on March 19, the German government reports.
Merz noted that EU countries, including Hungary, decided to allocate a loan of 90 billion euros to Ukraine back in December 2025.
“Orban has violated this consensus. In doing so, he violates one of the fundamental principles of our European cooperation,” emphasized Friedrich Merz.
According to the Chancellor, such actions undermine the European Union's ability to act effectively and coherently.
The Council of the European Union, in its conclusions after its meeting on March 19, emphasized the rapid adoption of the 20th package of sanctions against Russia.
“The Council reiterates the importance of further reducing Russia's energy revenues and further restricting Russia's banking system, and took stock of efforts aimed at deterring the operations of Russia's shadow fleet,” the EU Council conclusions state.
The EU Council also expects the first payment to Ukraine by early April under a loan of 90 billion euros, which was approved to be allocated to Ukraine in December 2025.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico did not support the conclusions of the Council of the European Union on Ukraine.