Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán refused to lift his veto on the EU’s proposed €90 billion loan to Ukraine at a European Council summit, despite a lengthy closed-door discussion that failed to produce a breakthrough. The article says Orbán has tied his stance to disrupted oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline, blaming Ukraine for slow repairs after damage from a drone strike, a position the piece notes fuels suspicions he is effectively serving Moscow’s interests. The article also describes how the standoff plays into Hungary’s domestic politics as Orbán campaigns ahead of the April 12 election, while speculation swirls about potential support visits from international allies. Beyond Hungary, the article rounds up other regional developments, including Slovakia’s cuts to independent cultural funding, political clashes in Poland over the EU carbon market, and plans for large anti-government protests in Prague.
Date: March 20, 2026. Source: balkaninsight.com