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US Senators Push for Sanctions on Hungarian Officials Over Blocked €90 Billion Ukraine Aid
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Two US senators are set to introduce a bill imposing sanctions on high-ranking Hungarian officials in response to Hungary's obstruction of aid to Ukraine, as reported by Financial Times on March 27
The initiative, known as “Block Putin,” comes in light of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's decision to block a €90 billion (about $96 billion) loan to Ukraine.
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According to Financial Times, the proposed sanctions would target Hungarian officials involved in the purchase of Russian oil and gas, as well as those obstructing Ukraine's access to financial assistance.
The bill's co-authors, Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Senator Thom Tillis, both lead the NATO Observer Group in the Senate. Both have been vocal critics of Europe's ongoing dependence on Russian energy resources.
Senator Tillis emphasized the importance of maintaining unity among the US and its allies in supporting Ukraine.
“This bill holds senior Hungarian officials accountable while giving Hungary a clear path to get back in line with its allies by ending its reliance on Russian energy and stopping its obstruction of support for Ukraine,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senator Shaheen expressed strong disapproval of reports suggesting that US Vice President Jay D. Vance may visit Hungary just days before the country's parliamentary elections.
She further stressed that if the US is to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, the Trump administration must apply consistent standards to all of its allies.
“If we want this war in Ukraine to end, the Trump administration needs to be consistent in holding our allies to the same standards; no one, especially Viktor Orbán, should get a free pass,” she added.
The Financial Times also noted that the bill does not explicitly name Orbán as a target for sanctions. Instead, the responsibility of determining which Hungarian officials were involved in the delay of aid to Ukraine and in maintaining Hungary's dependence on Russian energy resources will fall to the Trump administration.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has reiterated his stance on blocking European financing for Ukraine, a position he has vowed to uphold until Ukraine reinstates the flow of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline.
Orbán asserted that there are no technical reasons preventing the pipeline's operation. He framed the issue as a political decision made by Kyiv.
“The situation is clear: the Druzhba pipeline has no technical problems, the basis for its cessation is a political decision. The Ukrainians decided to cut off Hungary from the Russian oil that belongs to us,” Orbán explained.
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This ongoing dispute is closely tied to a proposed European financial aid package for Ukraine, amounting to €90 billion over the next two years. Orbán made it clear that Hungary’s veto on the package is directly linked to the unresolved issue of the Druzhba pipeline, signaling a continued impasse between Hungary and European allies.
At the same time, during an informal meeting of the EU General Affairs Council, a new approach for technical negotiations with Ukraine was unveiled, designed to circumvent Hungary's veto. The announcement came from Danish Minister for EU Affairs, Marri Bjerre, and EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos.
Bjerre expressed frustration that Hungary’s government had yet to lift its blockade, compelling other European countries to seek alternative solutions. While acknowledging that it was not possible to officially open Cluster 1 of the negotiations, she emphasized the positive outcome of reaching an agreement on a technical process known as “frontloading.” This process enables Ukraine’s EU accession to continue moving forward despite the ongoing impasse.
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