Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán“betrayed” EU partners by vetoing a €90 billion ($103 billion) loan package for Ukraine, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Thursday.
Speaking upon arrival at an EU summit, Orpo accused Orbán of undermining a prior agreement among member states, Euronews reports.
“We had a deal, and I think that he betrayed us,” Orpo said.
He also accused the Hungarian leader of using Ukraine as a political tool in his domestic campaign.
“He’s using Ukraine as a weapon in his election campaign, and it’s not good,” Orpo said.
Dispute over Ukraine funding
Orpo said that the EU must now find a way forward after the veto blocked the proposed financial support package.
“We need to find a solution how to go forward,” he said.
Orbán justified his position by citing Ukraine’s failure to repair damage to the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian oil through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia.
Both countries are currently exempt from the EU embargo on Russian oil.
Orbán’s threat to block the €90 billion package has escalated tensions with Brussels, with some EU officials reportedly warning that it could trigger punitive measures against Hungary.
Diplomats told Politico on Thursday that the move had “crossed a red line,” with some member states considering restricting Hungary’s access to EU funds or limiting its voting rights.