Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal told Euronews’ flagship morning show Europe Today that “nobody understands" Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán’s positions on Ukraine and said he expected the EU to lift Hungary’s veto and unveil plans to deliver the €90 billion loan to Ukraine.
“For a long time, I don’t understand Viktor Orban’s positions,” Michal said. “But he exactly knows that nobody understands his position to have this kind of idea that we should ask for European security from a dictator from Russia.”
Orbán recently decided to blockthe €90 billion emergency loan for Ukraine, after accusing Kyiv of “blackmail” over a damaged pipeline used for the transit of Russian oil. The move escalated tensions ahead of Hungary’s general election in April.
The Estonian prime minister echoed the position of other EU leaders who accused Budapest of acting disloyally, even though the assistance package had already been agreed upon at a landmark summit in December.
More recently, Orbán softened his stance and proposed deploying a “fact-finding mission” to the Ukrainian section of the Druzhba pipeline to assess the damage caused last month by a Russian drone attack, which led to a halt in oil deliveries.
But Michal said he expected European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Antonio Costa to explain how they intend to lift Hungary’s veto and ensure the funds are delivered to Ukraine. “They will tell,” he added.
He suggested that upcoming Hungarian elections could prove a “game changer,” while broader debates are emerging over whether the EU should move towards more centralised decision-making, particularly on security.
He also floated the idea of enhanced cooperation frameworks involving non-EU allies such as Norway, the UK, Canada and Iceland.
Frozen Russian assets still in play
On the issue of frozen Russian assets, often discussed as a potential source to aid Ukraine, Michal insisted they remain “not off the table.”
“They are still frozen, which is a good thing,” he said, noting that sanctions rollovers used to require six-month renewals but are now locked in more firmly.
Michal also said Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot afford to end Moscow's war in Ukraine, comparing his grip on power to “riding a bike”.
While Michal said he does not claim to understand Putin, he believes the logic of dictatorship explains Moscow’s continued aggression, even as negotiations take place.
“Right now Putin has more men under arms than at the start of the war,” Michal said. “If he stopped killing in Ukraine, what would he do with them?"
"In Russia they glorify the hero. If he stops, he falls," he added.
Michal warned that a premature peace without firm security guarantees could create instability not only inside Russia but across Europe.
On strained transatlantic ties, Michal said the tension was there but backed US President Donald Trump's calls for Europe to take more responsibility for its own defence.
“Europe should invest more in security,” he said. “That’s a message we understand.” Estonia is spending 5.4% of its GDP on defence this year, one of the highest levels in NATO.
“This is not easy,” Michal said. “But I know my grandchildren will live in peace because our neighbour knows that we take ourselves seriously.”
Pushing back against rhetoric that portrays Europe as weak or declining, Michal argued that if the continent follows through on defence commitments, it will be “better off in five, seven, 10 years.”
The Estonian PM also strongly rejected the rhetoric of Europe as a “decaying gold” and stressed that the continent, despite its challenges, remains one of the “freest nations in the world”.
