Hungary must lift its blockade on a €90 billion loan to Ukraine and abide by the commitments it made to other EU leaders in December, European Council President António Costa warned in a letter to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
The letter, which was sent to Orbán’s office on Monday afternoon and seen by POLITICO, comes after Budapest said it would block the €90 billion loan unless Ukraine resumes Russian oil flows through a pipeline leading to Hungary and Slovakia.
The Hungarian leader, who faces reelection in April, doubled down on his threat to block the loan in another letter seen by POLITICO, accusing Kyiv of slow-walking repairs to the Druzhba pipeline, which was damaged in a Russian drone attack.
“I strongly urge you to act in conformity with our common decision of 18 December and to unblock the implementation of the €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan,” Costa wrote in the letter which was sent as he traveled to Ukraine to commemorate the fourth anniversary of Russia launching its full-scale invasion.
Costa went on to warn Orbán that failing to abide by the Dec. 18 decision would “constitute a violation of the principle of sincere cooperation” between EU countries.
“No Member State can be allowed to undermine the credibility of decisions taken collectively by the European Council,” he wrote.
Costa concluded by saying that he remained “fully committed” to the energy security of all EU countries and that he would raise the matter of the Druzhba pipeline with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
EU Council chief warns Orbán against backtracking on €90B Ukraine loan
Source: Viral Showbiz Pinay
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