EU's aid to Ukraine blocked

Hungary is blocking the European Union from providing Ukraine with a loan to help its war effort.

Viktor Orban, the right-wing prime minister in Budapest, has been a constant critic of the bloc's commitment to supporting Kyiv and is seen as one of Vladimir Putin's closest allies in Europe. His country is a member of the EU, and he has been accused of undermining the bloc's position on the war.

Brussels agreed a deal worth €90bn in December to help Kyiv keep fighting for up to two more years, but Mr Orban is blocking the money from being provided. Speaking after a summit on Thursday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz accused him of an act of "gross disloyalty.