The 50 billion package for Ukraine failed at the last EU summit. A special summit should convince Orban. Will Hungary take back the veto?
- Special summit in Brussels: Representatives of the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) come together
- Viktor Orban in criticism: Experts accuse Hungary of veto policy when it comes to Ukraine aid
- All decisions and developments surrounding the special EU summit in our news developer.
Brussels – The last attempt to reach an agreement on further aid deliveries to Ukraine will begin at a special EU summit this Thursday (February 1st). The only thing missing for the package with financial support commitments amounting to 50 billion euros for the period until the end of 2027 is the support of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
They actually wanted to decide on the aid at a regular EU summit in December 2023, but Orban vetoed it and thus prevented the necessary unanimous decision. Before the special EU summit, Orban said in an interview with the French Le Point: “Nothing has changed.” Hungary is still of the opinion that there is no military solution to the conflict and that the European aid package does not fit this view. “We believe the only solution is diplomatic. It implies negotiations for a ceasefire and peace,” said the Hungarian Prime Minister.
Orban's compromise meets with criticism: EU threatens consequences before special summit
Instead, Orban proposed a compromise on Saturday: If everyone decided unanimously every year whether they wanted to continue sending money or not, the prime minister would not veto it. This means that the Hungarian Prime Minister could keep the option of voting against further aid again next year. However, other member states such as Germany reject this, among other things because they want to guarantee Ukraine long-term support. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) recently criticized the fact that some EU member states had budgeted less money for military aid deliveries in the Ukraine war. It endangers Kiev's endurance in the Ukraine war, said Scholz.
EU diplomats accused Orban of trying to use his veto policy to free frozen EU funds for Hungary. At the same time the reported Financial Times of EU plans to impose sanctions against Hungary in the event of another veto. It would not be the only step in this direction. According to the German press agency In this case, the other 26 EU states want to negotiate without Hungary. Accordingly, a debate about the withdrawal of Hungary's right to vote in EU decisions is also likely. The necessary Article 7 procedure for suspected rule of law deficits has been running for years, but without much emphasis.
EU ammunition plan fails even before the special summit on Ukraine aid
Shortly before the special EU summit, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced at a meeting of defense ministers in Brussels that the EU was failing in its ammunition plan for Ukraine. Borrell said Kiev can expect at least 21 billion euros in bilateral arms aid from Europe this year. The goal of delivering one million artillery shells will not be achieved by the end of March. However, the foreign representative was confident that this could be done by the end of 2024.
All 27 EU member states at a glance
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Denmark
- Germany
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Greece
- Ireland
- Italy
- Croatia
- Latvia
- Lithuania
Luxembourg - Malta
- Netherlands
- Austria
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Sweden
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Czech Republic
- Hungary
- Cyprus
The 21 billion euros would be a significant increase compared to the average 14 billion euros spent per year before, said Borrell in response to a request from the federal government. Germany alone had promised Kiev around seven billion euros for this year. The EU aid package is intended to guarantee Ukraine further support, which, if an agreement is reached, would be financed by the EU budget instead of by the member states. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenkyj announced a video address for the special summit. (dpa/lismah)
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