Simply hours after an settlement was reached on starting membership talks, Hungary has blocked € 50 billion in EU support for Ukraine, hours after an settlement was reached on beginning membership talks.
After Thursday’s talks in Brussels, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban mentioned that the “Abstract of the nightshift: veto for the additional cash to Ukraine.”
Whereas, EU leaders mentioned the help negotiations would resume early subsequent yr.
On Hungarian state radio, PM Orban mentioned he tried for hours to persuade European leaders to not log out on launching accession negotiations with Kyiv.
“They wish to give Ukraine via this choice the encouragement wanted to proceed the battle, and so they requested that I don’t impede them on this,” he mentioned.
“However their decisive argument was that Hungary doesn’t lose something with this … If we don’t need Ukraine to be a member of the European Union, then the Hungarian parliament votes it down. And till the problem will get to the parliaments, it’s a really, very lengthy course of, and as they counted and I did, there are about 75 events when the Hungarian authorities can cease this course of. They usually mentioned that if in the course of the negotiations there’s something which hurts Hungary’s pursuits, I cease it,” he added.
Orban additionally reiterated that Hungary didn’t wish to participate within the “dangerous choice” and that’s the reason he left the room whereas leaders made the choice to open accession talks.
Amid the intensifying assaults, Ukraine is closely depending on EU and US funding. Hungary’s support block comes after EU leaders determined to open membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova.
Hungary maintains shut ties with Russia.
In the meantime, Albin Kurti, Kosovo’s prime minister, referred to as the EU’s choice to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova a “historic second”.
Lithuania’s president Gitanas Nausėda mentioned that “At present we’re celebrating.”
“I’m proud to be European, and it was essential to ship this political sign to our mates, in Ukraine particularly,” he added.
In accordance with European Council President Charles Michel, 26 out of the 27 leaders agreed on Ukraine funding. The finances revision features a proposed 50 billion euro bundle for Ukraine, and spending on migration, defence and different priorities.