EU gives Hungary €900M to unblock €18B aid package for Ukraine
The European Union executive approved the allocation of 900 million euros ($982 million) in advance payments to Hungary as part of the previously frozen share of the country's recovery fund, Reuters reported on Nov. 23.
With this step, the bloc is trying to overcome Budapest's veto on aid to Ukraine.
The European Commission had previously suspended Hungary's access to the EU's post-pandemic economic stimulus due to signs of corruption and violations of democratic principles during the term of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Hungarian PM Viktor Orban sent a letter to European Council President Charles Michel on Nov. 22 demanding a review of the strategy to support Ukraine. Otherwise, Hungary threatened to block new tranches and Ukraine's future accession to the bloc.
Earlier, Budapest issued threats to block the payment of the planned 50 billion euros ($54.5 billion) in aid to Ukraine. Orban also threatened to block 500 million euros ($545 million) of planned military aid and veto a future decision to start negotiations on Kyiv's accession to the EU.
The European Commission recommended on Nov. 8 to begin negotiations on Ukraine and Moldova's accession to the EU.
Afterward, Orban said that the European Union should not start negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the bloc, emphasizing that this was Hungary's "clear stance."
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó also claims that Ukraine "will bring war to the European Union," so the country is "not yet suitable for EU membership."
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov says that Ukraine is ready to compromise with Hungary to join the EU.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Nov. 21 he does not consider Hungary's position on Ukraine's accession to the EU a global problem.
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