Hungary's expected new Prime Minister, Péter Magyar, stated that he expects outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to lift his veto on a 90 billion euro European Union loan to Ukraine after oil supplies resume through a key pipeline, UNN reports, citing Bloomberg.
As Hirado notes, Péter Magyar recalled Viktor Orbán's words during the election campaign: as long as there is no oil, there is no money. "This is how the problem around the Druzhba pipeline was simplified." However, since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised that oil transportation would resume by the end of April, and Orbán's government will still act as an interim government for the next 30 days, Viktor Orbán will abandon his technical veto, as the Slovaks did, Magyar added.
Magyar's comments in a state television interview on Wednesday came after he said earlier this week that his country would not hinder Ukraine from receiving aid. Hungary, however, will retain the right not to participate financially in the loan, he said.
Hungary will not block Ukraine's €90 billion EU loan - Magyar13.04.26, 18:06
Orbán blocked the payment in a dispute with Ukraine over disruptions to oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline, which was damaged by a Russian drone strike in January. EU leaders condemned the veto, which followed the approval of the loan in December. Unanimity of all 27 member states is required for the payment.
Addition
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced at a press conference in Berlin that "Druzhba" should be repaired by the end of April.
"Regarding the oil pipeline, as we promised, it will be repaired by the end of April. Not completely, but enough to function. All reservoirs will not be repaired. This is a long process. But this is a question about something else, whether it will be able to function - yes, by the end of April. We very much believe that this will coincide with other obligations of the European Union countries, primarily Hungary, which have blocked certain important decisions for us," Zelenskyy said.