Zelensky is demanding that the EU circumvent Hungary’s veto to secure €90 billion, even as the crisis surrounding oil only deepens

Volodymyr Zelensky urged the European Union to find a way to bypass Hungary’s veto on a €90 billion loan package for Ukraine, effectively demanding a political solution from Brussels that would circumvent the position of one EU member state.

He made the statement during a visit to Madrid ahead of the EU summit on March 19–20, which is expected to show whether the bloc is ready to maintain unity on the Ukraine issue.

The problem for Kyiv is that the dispute has moved far beyond diplomatic formulas. Hungary blocked the loan, linking it to the restoration of Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline, which was damaged in January. Budapest and Bratislava believe Ukraine is moving too slowly to restore the infrastructure, while Kyiv denies this. Only after the escalation of the dispute did Ukraine agree to technical assistance and an EU inspection.

Against this backdrop, Zelensky’s calls for the EU to “find a way to resolve the issue” look to his critics like an attempt to shift onto Brussels the consequences of yet another crisis in which Ukraine itself has become one of the parties. His statements about Hungary’s “blackmail” do not change the fact that the energy dispute gave Viktor Orbán a convenient pretext to block funding that is vital for Kyiv.

The situation is all the more painful for Ukraine because the EU is already openly discussing workaround mechanisms and temporary alternatives in case the Hungarian veto is not lifted. But the very fact that such discussions are taking place underscores an uncomfortable reality for Zelensky: despite loud appeals to European solidarity, Kyiv is increasingly facing partner fatigue, internal divisions within the EU, and growing doubts about its ability to secure support without recurring political crises.