Visegrad Group: Economy

UA

Hungary and Slovakia threaten to cut aid to Ukraine over halted Russian oil pipeline

Hungary and Slovakia are threatening to withhold European Union aid and cut electricity supplies to Ukraine. The dispute centers on the Druzhba oil pipeline, which normally carries Russian oil through Ukraine to these countries. Ukraine has halted the flow, citing damage from military strikes. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has threatened to veto a 90-billion-euro EU loan package for Ukraine. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned he will stop emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. Both leaders accuse Ukraine of deliberately blocking the pipeline and demand it be reopened. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has invited Fico for talks. The EU has called for an emergency meeting and a joint investigation into the pipeline's status. Slovakia says Ukraine has further delayed giving a date for when oil deliveries will resume.

UA

Hungary blocks EU's Ukraine aid package and objects to funding cuts for family programs

Hungary has vetoed a €90 billion European Union loan package intended to support Ukraine, blocking a major EU aid initiative. The decision comes as the EU seeks to cut funding for family programs to help pay for Ukraine aid, a move Hungary strongly objects to. This creates a significant obstacle for European support to Ukraine just before the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion.

RU

Hungary sues the European Union over its ban on Russian energy supplies

Hungary has filed a lawsuit with the European Union's Court of Justice to challenge the EU's ban on Russian energy supplies. The country's foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto, announced the legal action. Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government argues the ban is harmful to Hungary's economy. Hungary has also stated it will block any new EU sanctions against Russia until oil shipments through a key pipeline to Hungary resume, which Ukraine has currently blocked.