Orban threatens to block all EU aid to Ukraine: what are Hungary’s demands?

Orban blocks support for Ukraine in the EU / Collage 24 Channel

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is threatening to block all European Union aid to Ukraine and our future entry into the bloc. He put forward the condition that EU leaders must review their entire strategy for supporting Kyiv.

Hungary is doing its best to prevent Ukraine from receiving planned assistance. Politico learned about this from a letter that Orban sent to the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, Channel 24 reports. The letter, which journalists analyzed, is undated, but contains the seal of the office of the Hungarian leader.

What Orban said

In a letter addressed to the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, Viktor Orban stressed that no decision on financing Ukraine, opening negotiations on accession to the EU or further sanctions against Russia can now be made.

According to him, first of all, a “strategic discussion” should take place during the meeting of EU leaders in Brussels in mid-December.

The European Council must assess the implementation and effectiveness of our current policy towards Ukraine, including various assistance programmes. The European Council should also have a frank and open discussion on the implementation of the EU's strategic goals in Ukraine, Orban wrote in the letter.

The Hungarian leader also asks why Europe should continue to support Ukraine at a time when the United States allegedly “may not be able to continue funding due to the impasse on future support.”

Orban added in the letter that the European Union must come to a common decision on Ukraine.

“The European Council is unable to make key decisions on proposed security guarantees or additional financial support for Ukraine, approve further strengthening of the EU sanctions regime or agree on the future of the enlargement process unless consensus is found on our future strategy towards Ukraine,” Orban stressed.

What Hungary can do and why

The Hungarian leader did not say this directly, but he said it was clear that Budapest could use its veto power to block the payment of planned aid to Ukraine. 50 billion euros.

Additionally, Orbán is threatening to block planned ongoing €500 million in military aid to Ukraine, as well as the start of formal negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union. EU leaders hoped to approve the decision at the next European Council meeting on December 14 and 15.

According to one EU diplomat, Orban wants to stop all EU decision-making on Ukraine as part of a strategy to increase pressure on the European Commission to provide Hungary with 13 billion euros.

Slovakia officially stops aid to Ukraine

On Tuesday, November 22, the Slovak Parliament approved the government formed by Prime Minister Robert Fico. In addition, he supported a political program promising to end state military assistance in Ukraine.

It is worth noting that since the beginning of the great war with Russia, Ukraine has received the necessary help from Slovakia. In particular, previous governments of the country transferred air defense systems, helicopters, self-propelled howitzers, ammunition, fuel, etc. to Kyiv.

The government program states that Bratislava “will support peace plans with proposals for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Ukraine and a diplomatic resolution of the conflict in accordance with international law.”