European Union leaders expressed outrage on Thursday after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban refused to lift his veto on a €90 billion ($103 billion) loan to Ukraine, but officials pledged to proceed with the aid anyway.

At a summit in Brussels, 25 of the 27 EU leaders approved a statement calling for the loan's first disbursement by early April, while Orban and Slovakia's Robert Fico abstained. The loan, agreed upon by all members in December, is intended to cover Ukraine's budget needs for defense, pensions and wages over two years amid Russia's ongoing invasion.

Orban linked his blockade to a dispute over the Druzhba pipeline, which carries discounted Russian crude oil through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia. The pipeline has been offline since late January, when Ukraine blamed a Russian drone attack for the damage. Hungary accuses Kyiv of deliberately withholding supplies despite the line being functional and demands repairs plus guarantees against future interruptions. "As long as Zelenskiy does not lift the oil blockade, they will not receive any money from Brussels," Orban stated.

Ukraine accepted an EU offer last week to fund and assist with pipeline repairs, and a team of experts arrived in Kyiv on Thursday. However, Orban maintained his stance during the summit, facing sharp criticism from peers. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called it an act of "gross disloyalty" that damages the EU's reputation. European Council President Antonio Costa said, "A deal is a deal, and all the leaders need to honour that word. And nobody can blackmail the European Council."

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo accused Orban of using Ukraine "as a weapon in his election campaign." Orban trails in polls ahead of Hungary's April 12 parliamentary elections, where his campaign has portrayed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as a threat.

On Friday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen affirmed, "We will deliver one way or the other," as the Commission explores options to bypass Hungary's veto, potentially through alternative mechanisms. Meanwhile, Baltic and Nordic states are preparing up to €30 billion in bilateral aid if the EU loan stalls.

The blockage risks funding shortfalls for Ukraine within weeks, exacerbating its budget deficit. Zelenskiy called the loan "critical" to protect lives. Slovakia's Fico echoed concerns, stating EU-Ukraine ties are not "a one-way ticket."

Hungary and Slovakia hold exemptions from EU sanctions on Russian energy imports, relying on the Druzhba line despite higher costs from alternative routes like Croatia. EU diplomats hope for resolution after Hungary's vote or pipeline fixes, but the standoff underscores tensions over energy security and unity on Ukraine support.