The planned EU loan to Ukraine is currently on hold due to opposition from Hungary and Slovakia. At the heart of the conflict are disagreements over Hungary’s supply of Russian oil. Hungary wants to continue purchasing Russian oil, but this oil flows through a pipeline that crosses Ukrainian territory. Hungary has not actively sought alternatives to this pipeline, according to Dr. Frank Umbach.
The dispute within the EU highlights the problem of political vulnerability to blackmail by individual states. The principle of unanimity allows Hungary to exert strong pressure and push through its own goals.