Key events
Middle East crisis can take attention away from Ukraine, Lithuania’s Nausėda warns
Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda said he worried that “the events in Middle East can overshadow the war in Ukraine,” with the world’s attention shifting to the Middle East.
“I don’t think this is [right], because we are at a very, very critical stage of the war, … with a lot of casualties … and I think we are still far away from any peace deal,” he said.
Nausėda said that Russia continued to stall the talks as it hopes to “occupy as much territory as possible” and is “probably not ready for any kind of compromises.”
“This is the reason why we require to strengthen the sanctions regime. It’s unexplainable, and unfortunately [regretable], that we still doesn’t have the 20th package of sanctions on the table, and we have to complete this as soon as possible,” he said.
He added:
“It’s very difficult to convince Orbán, but it’s regrettable that we are losing so much time and we could proceed much earlier … It is no secret that Ukraine badly needs the €90bn … [as] they are under huge pressure fighting, not only on the battlefield, but also in the economic field.”
Dutch PM Jetten makes EU debut backing Ukraine, warning against Iran impact
The new Dutch prime minister, Rob Jetten, is making his European Council debut this morning.
Asked about Viktor Orbán’s position, Jetten insisted that “it is obvious that Ukraine needs out full support to win this war against the Russian aggression,” as he stressed the EU loan “is crucial to make sure Ukraine can prepare for the next winter.”
He said he expected all leaders to respect decisions made at previous summits, adding he was hopeful that a technical fix to the pipeline could be found quickly “so that this loan can take effect as soon as possible.”
Jetten also spoke about the war in Iran, warning about “higher energy prices, so we have to look how to protect out consumers and companies against big impact of this war.”
On another big issue of this summit, the push to reform the European Union Emissions Trading System, he said he was “willing to look how to improve our climate policies, but … not going to revoke policies that are … crucial to making sure that this continent is greener and stronger in the long term.”
Morning opening: Let’s talk about Viktor
Jakub Krupa
EU leaders are meeting in Brussels this morning for what was meant to be a discussion on the bloc’s competitiveness and economy, but “events, my dear boy, events” mean they will have to focus on Hungary’s ongoing spat with Ukraine and the Middle East instead.
Less than four weeks before a key parliamentary election in Hungary, Viktor Orbán will once again come under pressure to unblock the EU’s €90bn loan to Ukraine, which he is blocking over a dispute about the Druzhba pipeline.
But arriving in Brussels just a few minutes ago, Orbán has made it clear that he is not in a mood to compromise.
He said:
“We would like to get the oil which is ours from the Ukrainians and which is … blocked by the Ukrainians. I will never support any kind of decision here which is in favour of Ukraine [as long as] the Hungarians are not able to get the oil which belong to us.”
Asked if there is any other option to agree a way forward, he said: “No.”
“Sorry, no other option. We need it because it’s existential. What we are speaking about is not politics. It’s existential for Hungary to get the oil. … Without getting that oil, all the households, Hungarian companies will go to bankruptcy.
So you know, it’s not a joke, not a political game. Zelenskyy should understand it that this is not a game. This is absolutely existential for the Hungarians.”
The leaders will also have to discuss the situation in the Middle East amid growing concerns about the impact the conflict will have on Europe, including on energy prices.
Finland’s Petteri Orpo warned that Russia is the only beneficiary of this chaos and rising energy prices, as he urged leaders to step up pressure on Moscow.
He also pointedly criticised Orbán saying “he is using Ukraine as a weapon in his election campaign, and it’s not good.”
Orpo’s comments come just days after Belgium’s prime minister Bart de Wever appeared to suggest that the EU should look to improve its relationship with Moscow to get cheaper energy.
It should be a lively day in Brussels and I will bring you all the latest here.
It’s Thursday, 19 March 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.