After long discussions about the European Union’s position in the Middle East conflict, the issue of Ukraine is once again in focus on the second day of the EU summit in Brussels. This morning there was a fight between the 27 heads of state and government for more aid to the country attacked by Russia. Hungary and Slovakia are blocking this situation so far.
“It’s really important that one of the outcomes of this meeting is that we don’t lose sight of Ukraine,” warned Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. Yesterday, most participants at the summit made it clear “that Ukraine must be supported and that this must happen before the end of the year”, said Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. “I think we will be able to convince the two countries that are not yet on board.”
The European Commission has proposed an increase in the EU budget worth billions to, among other things, support Ukrainian refugees. Hungary openly rejects this. “We don’t want to spend money on migrants or on Ukraine,” said Prime Minister Viktor Orban. According to diplomats, Slovakia is also blocking the measure, where Robert Fico, a more pro-Russian politician, recently returned to government.