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EU Summit/ Iran War and Aid for Ukraine

2026-03-20 08:25:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban fears loss of power and blocks aid to Ukraine in the EU. Joint declaration fails to be signed. Parties to Iran war call for de-escalation.

Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other EU leaders failed to persuade Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to lift his blockade of billions in financial aid to Ukraine during a summit (March 19, 2026) in Brussels. According to diplomats from the German Press Agency (dpa), the talks ended late in the evening without a resolution to the dispute.

Right-wing populist Viktor Orban, who is fighting for re-election in Hungary, continues to insist that he will only lift the veto when Hungary resumes supplies of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline. Orban claims that without cheap Russian oil, Hungarian households and businesses would go bankrupt.

Even considerable pressure from Federal Chancellor Merz (CDU) and other heads of state and government failed to change this on Thursday. According to diplomats, they criticized Orbán's stance behind closed doors as unacceptable and pointed out that he had already approved the aid plan for Ukraine of up to 90 billion euros at the December summit (2025).

Merz said publicly: "The working principle in the European Union is the principle of loyalty and trustworthiness." All member states must adhere to this principle.

Hungary and Ukraine exchange accusations

In the conflict over the interruption of oil supplies through the "Druzhba" pipeline, it is about the fact that Hungary accuses Ukraine of obstructing the resumption of the line's operation. The pipeline runs from Russia, through Belarus and Ukraine, to Hungary and Slovakia.

Ukraine denies the allegations and says the pipeline is currently unusable due to the aftermath of Russian air strikes. It recently estimated that the necessary repairs would take about a month and a half.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday, during a video conference with EU heads of state and government, that Ukraine is doing everything necessary to receive the loan – including efforts to repair the pipeline. At the same time, he warned the EU that continuing Russian oil imports would help the aggressor.

An independent mission of EU experts is now expected to provide clarity on the exact state of the pipeline. However, it remains unclear whether their results can actually convince Orban to make concessions. Because at home he is fighting for re-election through a campaign against Ukraine, fueling fears that Hungary could be drawn into the war.

According to polls for Hungary's parliamentary elections, Orbán's party recently trailed his challenger, Péter Magyar. If Magyar wins the election, this summit could be Orbán's last regular one. He is currently the longest-serving head of state and government in the European Council. The right-wing populist has been in power continuously since 2010.

Is an emergency solution needed?

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo accused Orban of using Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia, as a "weapon" in his campaign for parliamentary elections on April 12. "We had an agreement, and I think he has betrayed us," he said. A solution must now be found on how to proceed.

Initially, no one wanted to talk publicly about concrete options. It is possible that Germany and other EU countries, if the blockade lasts longer, will look for other ways to provide the necessary guarantees for the planned loan to Ukraine. Currently, the intention is to use the EU budget, which gives Hungary the right of veto. The money is intended to cover Ukraine's most urgent financial needs until the end of 2027 and enable the country to continue its defensive war against Russia.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said he believed there was a "Plan B." However, it would be unwise to talk about it. Zelensky has so far not been clear on the question of when Ukraine would need new EU funds at the latest.

Orban has been away from the EU majority line for years

Orban has been at odds with the majority in the European Union for years on many issues. He is constantly accused of disregarding the EU's fundamental standards and values. His country has recently lost billions of euros in EU funds due to violations of the rule of law.

Theoretically, it is possible that he could be stripped of his EU voting rights. However, Hungary does not have much reason to fear this right now. Because Orban can still be sure that such a decision would not be approved due to the veto of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Slovakia, like Hungary, continues to be a buyer of Russian oil and is also suffering from the interruption of supplies through the Druzhba pipeline. For some time, the two countries have been blocking a decision on the 20th package of EU sanctions against Russia. At the summit, they blocked a joint statement by all EU states on the war in Ukraine.

EU leaders call for restraint in Iran war

Recent attacks on gas production facilities in Iran and neighboring Qatar have fueled fears of a further escalation of the war.

The heads of state and government of the European Union are calling for a halt to attacks on energy and water sector facilities in the war in Iran. They agreed to this during a summit in Brussels. They also called on all parties "to de-escalate the situation and show the greatest possible restraint, protect the civilian population and civilian infrastructure and fully respect international law."

Israel attacked the important South Pars gas field, which is exploited by Iran and Qatar, on Wednesday (18.03.2026). According to US President Donald Trump, this happened without his knowledge and approval. But US media reports suggested that Trump had clearly approved the attack, to increase pressure on Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz - a vital artery for the global oil market. Iran in turn attacked liquefied gas plants in Qatar. Qatar is one of the world's largest gas producers and plays a key role in the global supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG)./ DW