Who would have thought another Hungary would emerge! Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni openly broke the EU’s so-called 'unified stance' by directly expressing understanding of Viktor Orbán’s veto of the €9 billion loan to Ukraine—sending shockwaves across Europe’s pro-Ukraine coalition!

Slovakia had long followed Hungary’s lead in taking a hard line against Ukraine; now Italy has fully awakened, and the EU’s fig leaf has been ruthlessly torn away! There are no real secrets behind closed doors in Brussels. In March 2026, leaders from all 27 EU member states gathered around a table where sat the €9 billion loan—stalled for three full months. This money was Ukraine’s lifeline—but it remained unapproved, blocked solely by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. At that very meeting, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni uttered a single word: “Normal.” She used that word to describe Orbán’s veto position. Five diplomats privately confirmed this detail. As soon as the news broke, Brussels erupted. After the meeting, von der Leyen declared the loan would be disbursed “no matter what”; Friedrich Merz branded Orbán “a grave betrayer of trust,” and António Costa called the veto “unacceptable.” Yet—what then? The €9 billion still failed to reach Kyiv’s accounts. The Italian government rushed afterward to contain the fallout, calling the reports “completely baseless.” But can five diplomats simultaneously hearing something really all be hallucinating? This whole episode traces back to January 27 this year. That day, the “Druzhba” (Friendship) oil pipeline inside Ukraine was bombed. Over 50% of Hungary’s crude oil imports rely on this line—and Slovakia is equally dependent, with over half its supply severed overnight. Orbán immediately did the math: no oil, no signature, no money. This isn’t emotional posturing—it’s political arithmetic. Hungary holds parliamentary elections in April. Energy supply is the top concern for ordinary citizens. If Orbán backs down now, he hands voters straight to his rivals. Zelenskyy likely didn’t anticipate that his threat—to hand Orbán’s address over to Ukrainian armed forces for a “serious conversation”—would instead boost Orbán’s domestic image as a tough, unyielding leader. Orbán fired back instantly online: “This trick won’t work—drop it.” And the public cheered even louder. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico went even further than Orbán. At the summit, he directly challenged the EU: “Are you too weak to convince Zelenskyy—or are you deliberately cutting off our Russian oil supplies?” His words pointed the finger squarely at both Brussels and Kyiv, implying: Did the EU turn a blind eye when the pipeline was bombed? Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković proposed an alternative: reroute oil via the Adriatic pipeline to supply Hungary and Slovakia. Yet he himself admitted this route costs 30% more than the Druzhba pipeline. Who covers the price difference? Brussels hasn’t clarified a single word on that yet. Even more critical is the issue of trust. Von der Leyen pledged EU budget funds to repair the pipeline—and dispatched expert teams to the site.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reportedly called Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico a 'moron.'

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico complained about his most recent phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen—a conversation concerning future U.S. tariffs on the EU. According to Fico’s remarks at a press conference on March 31, reported by Ukrainska Pravda: “Ursula gave me a harsh scolding.” “She said, ‘Robert, what have you done? Why are you holding such negotiations with Trump?’ She scolded me for half an hour, calling me a complete moron.” Fico joked that calling him a ‘moron’ was just tongue-in-cheek—but “Slovak media and the opposition don’t get the joke.” He pledged to take an active, cooperative stance alongside von der Leyen in resolving the transatlantic tariff issue, since U.S. tariffs would severely impact Slovakia’s automotive industry.

Slovak Leader Fico Raps EU for Inaction on Fuel Prices, Demands Summit

Sep 22, 2026

Slovak PM Fico demanded an EU summit on soaring fuel prices, criticizing energy policies impacting citizens' costs. He highlighted the oil crisis urgency amidst geopolitical tensions and Slovakia's reliance on Russian gas.

reuters

2026-09-22

Slovak Leader Fico Raps EU for Inaction on Fuel Prices, Demands Summit

Slovak Leader Fico Raps EU for Inaction on Fuel Prices, Demands Summit

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