Victor Orban and Vladimir Putin
Hungary vetoes new sanctions on Moscow and aid to Kiev
Hungary has announced its veto on the fourteenth EU sanctions package. This was announced by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on the sidelines of the Foreign Affairs Council, explaining that Hungary will not vote in favor of the package because “in its current form it is absolutely contrary to Hungary’s economic interests” and “it would put security at risk of the country’s energy supply”. The proposed restrictive measures contain “elements that would slow down investments in the Paks nuclear power plant” and which “could be fatal for Hungarian agriculture and the food industry”.
In recent days the EU has reached an agreement on the use of immobilized Russian assets with the creation of an Assistance Fund in Kiev within the European Peace Facility. The EU had agreed to allocate just under 8 billion to the Assistance Fund, dedicated to military aid. Viktor Orban had been convinced to approve the agreement in principle with a trick that freed him from any participation in the re-use of Russian fixed assets for military supplies to Ukraine. What is missing, however, is Budapest’s yes to the transfer of resources from the European Peace Facility to Kiev. The Hungarian veto also remains on the disbursement of the eighth tranche.
Borrell: ‘Aid in Kiev cannot be taken hostage’
The EU cannot allow the decision on the provision of military aid to Ukraine through the Ukraine Fund, part of the EPF, “to be taken hostage by other issues”. Josep Borrell said this regarding Budapest’s block on the tranches of reimbursements for previous military aid and the full implementation of the new Fund for Kiev. “I hope that in the next Coreper the matter can be resolved, Ukraine needs weapons now and the leaders at the European Council have already given the green light in March”, he added. “There was a very lively discussion on this point in the Council.”
“I do not speculate on the reasons why a member state opposes a legal text,” Borrell continued when discussing the reasons why Budapest uses its veto. “But I have seven legal texts waiting to be approved to mobilize 5 billion euros for Ukraine under the EPF and these delays can be measured in terms of human lives,” he said, adding that the issue had been raised in the Council. of “proportionality” between legitimate national requests and the possibility for other member states to continue the work.
“We have already agreed that the Hungarian contribution will not be used for any kind of military support, lethal or otherwise, to Kiev,” he noted. “I therefore asked member states not to block legal texts on the use of Russian extra profits for military assistance to Ukraine,” he said. Borrell then also commented on the words of the Hungarian Foreign Minister on the possibility of compulsory military service for young Europeans. “The EU does not have the ability to establish compulsory military service, we are very far from having this power,” he said. “It is a national competence and I read that the United Kingdom is thinking about it.”
Germany, Italy and the Baltics against the Hungarian veto
Berlin urges Budapest to lift the veto on the creation of the EU Assistance Fund for Ukraine to support the delivery of weapons to Kiev, within the framework of the European Peace Facility (EPF). “We need all voices for the Ukrainian people. And that is why I make an urgent appeal to Hungary to finally make ‘European’ support for Ukraine possible to ensure peace,” the German Foreign Minister said, Annalena Baerbock, on the sidelines of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, underlining that “Europe is strong when it is united”
“Our position is against the blockade, we want to advance.” Thus the Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, upon his arrival at the EU Foreign Council, responding to a question on Hungary’s veto on financing for the delivery of weapons to Ukraine. And the reaction of the Balts was even harsher. “Hungary’s continued veto of all measures designed to help Ukraine is unacceptable. We have a duty to react: the EU cannot remain immobile due to Hungary’s systematic creation of obstacles” , said the Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis upon his arrival in Brussels today.
“The fear of European countries about Russia’s possible reactions – added Landsbergis – is perceived by Moscow as an invitation to do what it wants. Moscow feels authorized to prepare sabotage and terrorist actions in Europe only because it is aware of our fear”. The Lithuanian minister also underlined the importance of giving Kiev the green light to strike military targets within Russian territory with weapons supplied by Western countries. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna also drew attention to the recent removal of border buoys on the Narva River, carried out by the Russian Border Guard on the border with Estonia. “This was a clear violation of our border,” Tsahkna said. “We must remember that it was not only the Estonian border that was violated, but, at the same time, that of the EU and NATO. A common reaction must be agreed upon.” The Estonian politician therefore hoped that the EU would soon reach an agreement on the use of frozen Russian assets in favor of Ukraine. “Estonia passed a law to this effect last week. Now it’s Europe’s turn to do the same,” concluded Tsahkna.
#Sanctions #Russia #weapons #Ukraine #Hungarys #veto #chaos