Hungary blocked approval of a €18 billion aid package for Ukraine, prompting allegations from other EU members that Prime Minister Viktor Orban was abusing his veto power.
The package, worth around $18.9 billion, would have provided Ukraine with funds to maintain its steadfast defenses in the face of an invasion from Russia. Orban’s vote is forcing other European nations to find alternative ways to continue supporting Ukraine.
The European Union decided to withhold $7.5 billion in funding from Hungary over allegations of fraud and corruption. Orban’s critics believe he blocked the proposed funds to Ukraine in order to pressure the rest of the bloc to release the funds.
The EU requires unanimity to send money to Ukraine through the bloc’s channels, but individual nations can also do so alone, although coordinating efforts is more complicated.
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“Viktor Orban is abusing the veto like no other before him. … He’s even taking money for Ukrainian hospitals hostage,” said Daniel Freund, a member of the Green Party and parliamentary negotiator on the rule of law. “Viktor Orban could not have given Putin a nicer present today.”
Viktor Orban has been Prime Minister of Hungary since 2010. (Zoltan Mathe/MTI via AP)
But Freund insisted that “the EU will find ways to support Ukraine without Hungary. But that means: more time, more effort, more costs.”
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Orban denied his veto had anything to do with the dispute over funds, instead issuing a statement on how the EU should work, saying reports of a veto were “fake news”. Hungary is ready to provide financial assistance to Ukraine on a bilateral basis.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers a speech during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, Wednesday December 15, 2021. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says Omicron is expected to be the dominant Coronavirus variant will be in the 27-nation block by mid-January. (Julien Warnand, pool photo via AP)
He insisted the bloc’s proposed method of delivering aid “is not the solution”.
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“If we continue along the path towards a debt community, we will not be able to turn back,” he added without further elaboration.
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Czech Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura told reporters: “Whether it’s plan A or plan B, whatever the cost,” Europe needs to make sure the money gets to Ukraine in early January.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Peter Aitken is a reporter at Fox News Digital specializing in national and global news.