Hungary threatens to block Ukraine aid over oil row

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatened Friday to veto the European Union's $106‑billion loan to Ukraine unless Kyiv restored Russian oil deliveries through a pipeline on its territory.

Ukrainian authorities say the Druzhba pipeline, which runs from Russia through its territory to Slovakia and Hungary, was shut down after being damaged during a Russian attack in January.

The shutdown angered Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico and Orban. The two are among Russia's closest allies in Europe.

"As long as Ukraine blocks the Druzhba pipeline, Hungary will block the 90‑billion-euro Ukrainian war loan. We will not be pushed around!" the Hungarian leader wrote on Facebook.

Slovakia's Economy Minister Denisa Sakova said on Friday that Ukraine had postponed the resumption of oil deliveries until February 24.

On Wednesday, Fico declared a state of emergency over supplies and threatened retaliatory measures against Ukraine if the pipeline was not reopened.

Fico and Orban have accused the Ukrainian government of political "blackmail" against Hungary, which opposes Ukraine's accession to the EU.

The European Parliament approved the loan on February 11 to help Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion.