Berlin: Hungary must end 'unacceptable blockade' of EU funds for Kiev

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Wednesday called on Hungary to stop blocking new EU loans worth billions for Ukraine to assist its defence against Russia.

"We can no longer afford to allow unacceptable blockades – such as those currently being imposed by Hungary – to delay this urgently needed aid, and thus cost human lives, because important resources for national defence are lacking," Wadephul said before departing for an informal meeting of the Council of the Baltic Sea States in Warsaw.

In the short term, it is critical that Ukraine be provided with the necessary €90 billion ($105 billion) quickly, Wadephul said.

Hungary has justified its block on fresh EU sanctions against Moscow and its veto against the loan on the basis that it is no longer receiving Russian oil through Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Ukraine, because Ukraine is not repairing it after a Russian attack.

The loan involves financial aid for Ukraine totalling €90 billion, of which €60 billion is specifically earmarked for Kiev's defensive struggle.

Wadephul said European countries must do even more to help Ukraine, including supporting its path to the European Union.

Membership would "perhaps be the most important security guarantee for Ukraine in the future," he argued.

In February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky again pushed for his country's accession to the EU as early as 2027 at the Munich Security Conference.

However, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made it clear that he does not believe this is possible.