EU Scrambles to Finalize Russia Sanctions, Ukraine Loan Amid Hungarian Veto Threat

• EU nations, including Germany and France, reaffirm support for Ukraine as diplomats work to finalize new sanctions on Russia and a substantial loan for Kyiv.
• Hungary threatens to veto both the proposed sanctions package and a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine, citing disruptions to Russian oil deliveries.
• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán alleges Ukraine is deliberately holding back Russian oil shipments and accuses Kyiv of seeking to topple his government.
• European leaders emphasize increasing pressure on Russia to end the war, with Germany's Friedrich Merz stating the war will end when Russia's costs become too high.
• Hungary's upcoming election in April is seen as a factor in Orbán's aggressive anti-Ukraine stance and veto threats, despite previous agreement on the loan.