{"id":204984,"date":"2026-03-20T23:44:33","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T21:44:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/?p=204984"},"modified":"2026-03-20T23:44:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T21:44:34","slug":"no-oil-no-money-orban-blocks-90-billion-euro-aid-loan-for-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/no-oil-no-money-orban-blocks-90-billion-euro-aid-loan-for-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cNO OIL, NO MONEY\u201d: Orb\u00e1n blocks 90 billion euro aid loan for Ukraine!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>European Union leaders accused Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n of disloyalty and blackmail after he blocked a 90 billion euro (\u00a377 billion) loan for Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;No oil = no money,&#8221; Orb\u00e1n said in a post on X following the summit in Brussels on Thursday, during which he refused to lift his veto, citing a dispute over a damaged oil pipeline that transports Russian oil to Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Orb\u00e1n\u2019s actions represent a \u201cblatant act of disloyalty,\u201d while European Council President Antonio Costa described it as something tantamount to \u201cblackmail.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Orb\u00e1n \u2014 who has maintained close ties with Russia since it launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 \u2014 has made a hostile stance toward Ukraine a key issue ahead of the April 12 election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hungary depends on Russian energy, and Orb\u00e1n accused Ukraine of disrupting these supplies by failing to repair the Soviet-era oil pipeline called \u201cDruzhba,\u201d which carries Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia via Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kyiv says the pipeline was damaged in January by Russian air strikes, that repairs will take weeks \u2014 but also that restoring the oil flow would effectively mean lifting sanctions on Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:#FFFFFF;color:#d21414\" class=\"has-inline-color\">FIND OUT MORE:<\/mark><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-serbiantimes-info wp-block-embed-serbiantimes-info\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"SBTeFpK9aZ\"><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/rascinjen-svestenik-iz-kanade-optuzen-za-proneveru-marjanac-priznao-da-je-iz-crkvene-kase-ukrao-165000-u-eparhiji-sumnjaju-da-je-steta-puno-veca\/\">RA\u0160\u010cINJEN SVE\u0160TENIK IZ KANADE OPTU\u017dEN ZA PRONEVERU! Marjanac priznao da je iz crkvene kase ukrao 165,000$, u Eparhiji sumnjaju da je \u0161teta mnogo ve\u0107a!<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#132;RA\u0160\u010cINJEN SVE\u0160TENIK IZ KANADE OPTU\u017dEN ZA PRONEVERU! Marjanac priznao da je iz crkvene kase ukrao 165,000$, u Eparhiji sumnjaju da je \u0161teta mnogo ve\u0107a!&#147; &#8212; Serbiantimes.info\" src=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/rascinjen-svestenik-iz-kanade-optuzen-za-proneveru-marjanac-priznao-da-je-iz-crkvene-kase-ukrao-165000-u-eparhiji-sumnjaju-da-je-steta-puno-veca\/embed\/#?secret=Kl5NUl5aIq#?secret=SBTeFpK9aZ\" data-secret=\"SBTeFpK9aZ\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While the pipeline is out of service, Orb\u00e1n has blocked the disbursement of EU funds to Ukraine \u2014 despite having previously approved the decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The EU leaders\u2019 meeting on Thursday, which lasted late into the night, ended with many expressing muted anger over Orb\u00e1n\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cColleagues who have been members of the European Council much longer than I have were deeply angry about what happened today,\u201d German Chancellor Merz told reporters during a press conference in the early hours of Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt is a blatant act of disloyalty within the European Union,\u201d he said. \u201cI firmly believe this will have profound consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>French President Emmanuel Macron called the outcome of the meeting \u201cunprecedented,\u201d adding that the loan disbursement must be \u201ccarried out without delay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The President of the Council and chief negotiator Costa joined the criticism, describing Hungary\u2019s actions as \u201ccompletely unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo one can blackmail European institutions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Orb\u00e1n, however, remained firm in his position after the meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was a tough discussion, but we stood our ground,\u201d he wrote on X. \u201cWe have the right to say \u2018no\u2019 to a loan for the Ukrainian war. Until @ZelenskyyUa lifts the oil blockade, there will be no money from Brussels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to Orb\u00e1n, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico \u2014 another ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin \u2014 also refused to support the summit conclusions confirming the intention to release funds to Ukraine. Unanimity is required to unlock the funds, and the conclusions state that the matter will be discussed at the next leaders\u2019 meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged that the loan would be delivered \u201cone way or another,\u201d while Macron said there would be \u201cno plan B\u201d for the funds, because \u201cplan A must be implemented.\u201d<br>Ahead of the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed for the release of the funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFor the third month, the most important financial security guarantee for Ukraine from Europe has not been functioning \u2014 the 90 billion euro support package for this and next year,\u201d he told EU leaders during the summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is crucial for us. It is a resource for protecting lives,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Orb\u00e1n has repeatedly delayed EU aid to Ukraine, as well as successive rounds of sanctions against Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:#FFFFFF;color:#d21414\" class=\"has-inline-color\">MORE TOPICS:<\/mark><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/talented-twins-decided-to-play-for-serbia-jug-and-vid-grew-up-in-germany-they-train-at-werder-and-here-is-why-they-chose-the-eagles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">TALENTED TWINS DECIDED TO PLAY FOR SERBIA: Jug and Vid grew up in Germany, they train at Werder, and here is why they chose the Eagles!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/bravo-novak-serbian-wunderkind-who-stacked-up-medals-at-olympiads-is-today-a-student-of-the-most-prestigious-college-at-the-famous-cambridge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">BRAVO, NOVAK! Serbian wunderkind who stacked up medals at olympiads is today a student of the most prestigious college at the famous Cambridge!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/feat-by-students-from-pozega-that-amazed-serbia-instead-of-excursions-children-go-to-hilandar-to-prune-vineyards-and-help-monks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">FEAT BY STUDENTS FROM PO\u017dEGA THAT AMAZED SERBIA: Instead of excursions, children go to Hilandar to prune vineyards and help monks!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/brotherly-love-stronger-than-anything-little-jakov-8-walked-from-kragujevac-to-belgrade-and-collected-24000-euros-for-his-sisters-treatment-photo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">BROTHERLY LOVE STRONGER THAN ANYTHING: Little Jakov (8) walked from Kragujevac to Belgrade and collected 24,000 euros for his sister\u2019s treatment! (PHOTO)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/lest-we-forget-the-march-pogrom-in-kosovo-was-deadly-for-many-serbs-while-thousands-got-expelled\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">LEST WE FORGET: The March pogrom in Kosovo was deadly for many Serbs, while thousands got expelled!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source<\/strong>:<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/n1info.rs\/svet\/nema-nafte-nema-novca-orban-blokirao-pomoc-ukrajini-eu-ga-optuzuje-za-ucenu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">N1<\/a>, <strong>Foto: <\/strong>EPA-EFE \/ JULIEN WARNAND<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>European Union leaders accused Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n of disloyalty and blackmail after he blocked a 90 billion euro (\u00a377 billion) loan for Ukraine. &#8220;No oil = no money,&#8221; Orb\u00e1n said in a post on X following the summit in Brussels on Thursday, during which he refused to lift his veto, citing a dispute [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2169,"featured_media":200740,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[351,73,755,1525,384,131,703,756,704],"class_list":["post-204984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-breaking","tag-eu","tag-evropska-unija","tag-madarska","tag-novac","tag-pomoc","tag-rat","tag-ukrajina","tag-viktor-orban","tag-vladimir-zelenski","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Serbiantimes.info EN","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2169"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=204984"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204984\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":205003,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204984\/revisions\/205003"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/200740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=204984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=204984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=204984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}