It is up to the administration to determine which members of Orbán’s government will face sanctions
Two U.S. senators from different parties plan to introduce a bill that would impose sanctions on high-ranking officials in Hungary for blocking aid to Ukraine.
This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the Financial Times.
Also read: Ukraine’s blackmail backfired. The EU froze billions for Hungary, – media
The idea to introduce the bill arose amid Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s decision to block a €90 billion loan to Ukraine.
The document is set to be introduced this week. If passed, the “Putin Blockade” law would require U.S. President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on Hungarian government officials involved in purchasing Russian oil and gas, and who are seeking to obstruct aid to Ukraine.
The authors of the bill are Democrat Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Thom Tillis – they co-chair the NATO Observer Group in the Senate. Both politicians have openly expressed concerns about Europe’s ongoing dependence on Russian energy resources.
Thom Tillis noted that the U.S. and its allies must remain united in supporting Ukraine in cutting off the revenues that fuel Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin’s war.
“This bill holds high-ranking Hungarian officials accountable while providing Hungary with a clear path to restore relations with its allies by ending its dependence on Russian energy and ceasing to obstruct support for Ukraine,” he added.
In turn, Jeanne Shaheen criticized U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who, according to media reports, plans to visit Hungary just days before the parliamentary elections.
“It is incredible that Vice President Vance is reportedly planning to visit Hungary to support a corrupt government that continues to finance the Russian war machine,” she said.
Shaheen added that if the U.S. wants to end the war in Ukraine, the Trump administration must apply the same standards to all its allies. She emphasized that no one, especially Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, “should go unpunished.”
FT also noted that Orbán is not directly mentioned in the bill as a target for sanctions.
A congressional aide explained that it is up to the Trump administration to determine which Hungarian officials were involved in delaying aid to Ukraine and maintaining Hungary’s dependence on Russian energy resources.
EU loan for Ukraine
Recall that at the end of 2025, the EU agreed to a $90 billion loan for Ukraine for two years. It became an alternative to the decision to seize frozen Russian assets. However, Hungary vetoed the loan.
Recently, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that unblocking the EU loan is critically important for Ukraine and its defense capabilities. Without funding, the army and drone production will suffer.
It is also worth noting that recently, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico threatened that his country could also block further loans for Ukraine.
