Despite the urgency of the situation, European leaders were stuck on Thursday in mutual disputes and the inability to reach concrete decisions. Meetings will continue on Friday.
The tensions were especially apparent during talks with Hungary's Viktor Orbán, who is blocking the approval of a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine. This blockade has drawn the attention of other European leaders, who expressed their frustration but were unable to convince Orbán of their position.
Unacceptable
“Orbán’s behavior is unacceptable,” said several other EU leaders about the blockade, which hinders the provision of emergency aid to Ukraine while the country is under pressure from Russia. The pressure on Orbán is increasing, but he continues to cling to his conditions. He wants Ukraine to first repair the Druzhba oil pipeline, which was destroyed by Russia, so that his country can again receive Russian oil.
Promotion
French President Macron and other leaders expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation, but the talks led to little more than vague compromises and repetitions of previous positions. Orbán demands that the EU restore oil imports from Russia before he agrees to financial support for Ukraine.
Postponing
Next month, there will be elections in Hungary. It appears that Orbán’s Fidesz party will lose, and the country will get a more pro-European government. Brussels must therefore postpone the payment to Kyiv until the end of April.
In addition, the EU leaders discussed the political crises in the Middle East and their impact on Europe. The consequences of the war in Iran are forcing leaders to reconsider their security strategies, while there is little willingness within the EU to intervene with military means.
Ursula von der Leyen, chairwoman of the European Commission, called the situation globally worrying, but the EU leaders continue their calls for ‘de-escalation’.