Hungary has blocked the approval of an 18 billion euro financial aid package for Ukraine, prompting accusations from other EU members that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is abusing his veto power.
A package worth approximately $18.9 billion would be secured funds for Ukraine maintain its steadfast defense in the face of an invasion from Russia. Orbán’s vote forces other European countries to look for alternative ways to continue supporting Ukraine.
The European Union has decided hold back $7.5 billion in funding to Hungary due to fraud and corruption concerns. Orbán’s critics believe he blocked the funds offered to Ukraine to pressure the rest of the bloc to release the funds.
The EU requires unanimity to send money to Ukraine through the bloc’s channels, but individual countries can also do so independently, although coordinating efforts is more difficult.
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“Viktor Orbán abuses the right of veto like no one before him. … He is even taking funds for Ukrainian hospitals hostage for this,” said Daniel Freund, a member of the Green Party and a parliamentary negotiator on the rule of law. “Viktor Orbán could not have given Putin a better gift today.”
Viktor Orbán has been the Prime Minister of Hungary since 2010.
(Zoltan Mate/MTI via AP)
But Freund insisted that “the EU will find ways to support Ukraine even without Hungary. But that means: more time, more effort, more costs.”
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Orbán denied that his veto had anything to do with the funding dispute and was instead a statement about how the EU should work, saying reports of the veto were “fake news. Hungary is ready to provide financial assistance to Ukraine on a bilateral basis.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the micron is expected to be the dominant variant of the coronavirus in bloc of 27 countries by mid-January.
(Julien Varnand, pool photo via AP)
He insisted that the bloc’s proposed method of delivering aid was “not a solution”.
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“If we continue to decline the way to the debt communitywe will not be able to turn back,” he added without elaborating.
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Czech Finance Minister Zbynek Stanjura told reporters: “Whether it’s plan A or plan B, regardless of the price,” Europe must ensure the flow of money to Ukraine in early January.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
