Hungary has announced it will block the European Union’s EUR 90 billion loan to Ukraine until the transit of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline is restored.

Axar.az reports that Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused Ukraine of “blackmailing Hungary by halting oil transit in coordination with Brussels and the Hungarian opposition” to drive up fuel prices before elections.

"We are blocking the €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine until oil transit to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline resumes. Ukraine is blackmailing Hungary by halting oil transit in coordination with Brussels and the Hungarian opposition to create supply disruptions in Hungary and push fuel prices higher before the elections. By blocking oil transit to Hungary through the Druzhba pipeline, Ukraine violates the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, breaching its commitments to the European Union. We will not give in to this blackmail.", Szijjarto wrote on his X.

The pipeline was reportedly disrupted after a January 27 drone strike on Ukraine’s Lviv energy infrastructure, confirmed by Naftogaz as the 15th attack in a month.

Ukrainian officials stressed that the transit issues stem from Russian aggression, while Croatia offered to assist Hungary and Slovakia with oil transit via the Adria pipeline—but not with Russian oil, which funds Russia’s war.

It should be noted that earlier reports indicated Hungary had blocked the €90 billion loan.