The adoption of this financial aid required the unanimity of the member states. The head of the Hungarian government, however, did not oppose the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine on Thursday.
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The Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, announced on Friday December 15 that he had vetoed, during a summit of the Twenty-Seven, the adoption of new EU budgetary support for Ukraine to the tune of 50 Billions of Euro’s. “Veto of additional funds to Ukraine, veto of the revision of the European multiannual budget, we will return to the issue next year after appropriate preparations”wrote the head of the Hungarian government on X (formerly Twitter). The adoption of this package required the unanimity of member states.Viktor Orban did not, however, use its right of veto on Thursday to oppose the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine.
The 26 other EU countries, meeting with Hungary at a summit in Brussels, had to bow to the obstinacy of the nationalist leader. “We will return to the subject at the beginning of January” during a new summit, said the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, on the night of Thursday to Friday. “There are 26 countries that have given the green light. There is no agreement with Hungary at the moment, but I am confident that we will achieve it next year”added the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte
The EU had planned to grant Ukraine aid of 50 billion euros (33 billion euros in loans and 17 billion euros in donations) over four years starting next year. This new aid is considered crucial in kyiv at a time when American aid of more than 60 billion dollars remains blocked in Congress due to reluctance from Republican elected officials.
