On Friday night, Hungary vetoed the EU’s package of 50 billion euros, or around NOK 577 billion, to Ukraine. The country also blocked the EU’s budget decision.
– Hungary is a sovereign country. It has its own interests. And Hungary, unlike many European countries, firmly defends its interests, which impresses us, Peskov said at a press conference on Friday.
At the same time, Russia is punishing the EU’s decision to open membership negotiations with Ukraine.
– Bringing Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia closer to EU membership could ultimately destabilize the union, claims Peskov.
Changed opinion
Hungary will still be able to stop Ukraine’s process to become a member of the EU, says the country’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban to Hungarian radio on Friday morning.
Orban has said for a long time that he will not allow the EU to start membership talks with Ukraine. But when the decision was to be taken during the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, he left the room and abstained from voting. It thus became clear that the Union can start negotiations with Ukraine.
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What caused Orban to change his mind is not yet known.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said for a long time that he will not allow the EU to start membership talks with Ukraine. Photo: Virginia Mayo/AP/NTB/NTB
Put down the veto
The breakthrough came at a critical time for Ukraine, which has struggled to regain territory occupied by Russia and is waiting for a $60 billion aid package to pass the US Congress.
On Friday night, Hungary vetoed the EU’s package of 50 billion euros, or around NOK 577 billion, to Ukraine. The country also blocked the EU’s budget decision.
Orban tells Hungarian radio that he had to block the aid package to Ukraine to ensure that Hungary gets the funds it wants from the EU budget.
EU leaders ended talks on the budget early Friday morning and said another attempt would be made in January.
Orban has promised that the country will return to the issue next year after “proper preparations”.
2023-12-15 10:48:35
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