EU Summit: Leaders Confront Viktor Orbán Over Blocked 90 Billion Euro Ukraine Loan

EU leaders will gather in Brussels on Thursday to press Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to lift his veto on a 90 billion euro loan package for Ukraine, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warning that the funding deadlock is already threatening his ability to pay soldiers. The summit comes at a moment of acute pressure on European unity, as the bloc simultaneously navigates strained relations with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and internal disputes over trade and climate policy. European sources described Orbán's refusal to back the loan as a turning point in the EU's approach to supporting Kyiv. The stakes are high: without the funds, Ukraine faces a direct shortfall in military payroll, according to Zelensky's warning cited by ANSA. Ahead of the formal session, several leaders held bilateral meetings in Brussels on Wednesday evening to coordinate positions before the confrontation with Hungary's prime minister.

Hungary and Slovakia demand Druzhba pipeline guarantees According to European sources cited by ANSA, Hungary and Slovakia are conditioning their cooperation on receiving guarantees related to the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian crude oil to Central Europe. The two countries have sought assurances that their energy supply arrangements will not be disrupted as part of any broader deal tied to the Ukraine loan. This demand has complicated negotiations significantly, as it links the financial support package to a separate and politically sensitive energy dependency question. European sources described the situation as a deadlock, with Orbán's position representing a significant obstacle to reaching agreement at the summit. The pipeline issue underscores the divergence within the EU between member states that have moved to reduce Russian energy dependence and those that remain structurally reliant on it.

Merz holds back-to-back meetings with Meloni and Macron German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held separate bilateral meetings on the eve of the summit, sitting down with both Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron in Brussels, according to ANSA reports. The meetings signal an effort by Berlin to build a coordinated front among major EU economies ahead of the confrontation over the Ukraine loan. Merz, who has led Germany since May 2025, has positioned himself as a central figure in European security discussions since taking office. The Macron-Merz bilateral in particular reflects the traditional Franco-German axis that has historically driven EU decision-making on major financial and foreign policy questions. No details of the specific outcomes of either meeting were available ahead of the summit opening. The EU has been providing financial and military support to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Hungary, under Orbán, has repeatedly used its veto power within EU institutions to delay or dilute aid packages for Kyiv, citing concerns about sovereignty, energy security, and the costs of the conflict for Hungarian citizens. The Druzhba pipeline has been a recurring point of tension, as EU sanctions on Russian energy have created exemptions for landlocked member states that lack alternative supply routes.

Kallas raises Strait of Hormuz with Iran's foreign minister On the margins of the summit preparations, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, with Kallas stressing that the security of the Strait of Hormuz is a priority for the European Union, according to ANSA. The talks took place against the backdrop of the ongoing U.S.-Israel military operation against Iran, which began on February 28, 2026, and has raised concerns about the stability of Persian Gulf shipping lanes. The summit also faces broader anxieties about the EU's relationship with the Trump administration and the defense of the bloc's Emissions Trading System, according to ANSA analysis. EU leaders are expected to address both the geopolitical and economic dimensions of the current moment, with the Ukraine loan deadlock serving as the most immediate and politically charged item on the agenda. The convergence of these pressures has led European officials to describe the summit as an emergency session in all but name.