European Council President António Costa has issued a stern warning to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, stating that blocking financial aid to Ukraine will lead to serious consequences for Budapest.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing Politico, that the warning comes amid escalating tensions within the European Union regarding financial support for Kyiv.
According to reports, Costa informed the Hungarian side that failure to comply with the December 18 decision constitutes a violation of the "principle of sincere cooperation" among EU member states. He emphasized that no single member state can undermine the authority of decisions adopted collectively by the European Council. This correspondence is expected to further deepen the ongoing conflict between Brussels and Budapest over the rule of law and foreign policy alignment.
The dispute intensified on February 20, when Hungary blocked a 90-billion-euro loan intended for Ukraine. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto declared that Budapest would continue to veto the decision until Kyiv restores the transit of Russian oil through the "Druzhba" pipeline. While EU leaders agreed on the interest-free loan during a summit in December 2025, three countries—Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia—have legally opted out of participating in the financing mechanism.
The European Council, which comprises the heads of state or government of the 27 EU member states, defines the EU's overall political direction and priorities. Under the current geopolitical climate, the Council has focused heavily on maintaining a unified front in support of Ukraine. However, Hungary's frequent use of its veto power has repeatedly challenged this consensus, leading to debates within the bloc about reforming voting procedures to prevent single-country blockages on critical security and financial matters.
