Meloni told leaders she understands Orbán’s Ukraine position, diplomats say – POLITICO

BRUSSELS — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni broke ranks with much of the EU by speaking sympathetically about Hungary’s Viktor Orbán over his stance on Ukraine during a private session of Thursday’s European summit.

Meloni told her counterparts she understood the reasons the Hungarian leader had angered the bloc by going back on his word and refusing a €90 billion loan to Ukraine after having approved it in December, five diplomats familiar with the confidential discussions — none of whom were from Italy — told POLITICO.

Orbán’s about-turn has infuriated his fellow leaders and stunned Ukraine, which is running out of money as its war with Russia drags into its fifth year, and goes against EU convention because of his formal approval just weeks ago. Meloni and Orbán are both rightwingers but the Italian leader has broadly stuck to the mainstream EU line, in which the Hungarian government has been seen as obstructionist.