Hungary's blockade threatens crucial EU military aid to Ukraine

According to EU sources from PAP, Hungary is obstructing not only €5 billion (£4.4 billion) in military support for Ukraine but also the transfer of profits from frozen Russian assets to Kyiv. Unofficially, among EU foreign ministers, frustration is growing because of Budapest's stance.

On Monday at 1 PM GMT in Brussels, a meeting of the foreign ministers of the European Union took place. Among them was Dmytro Kuleba, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. One of the diplomats noted that Kuleba gave a very moving speech. He presented a picture of a young boy who lost his father in a Russian attack on a shopping centre in Kharkiv last weekend. Kuleba appealed to the attendees for swift military support for Ukraine.

During the session, ministers focused on funding the European Peace Facility (EPF) with €5 billion (£4.4 billion). Currently, Hungary is blocking this, although, as the EU source highlights, negotiations on other technical matters have not yet been concluded. The EPF is a mechanism that allows member states to seek reimbursement for money spent on purchasing equipment for Ukraine. Funds acquired from taking profits from frozen assets of the Russian Central Bank are also set to go to the EPF.

Frustration is at least growing, as the EU currently has support amounting to €5 billion (£4.4 billion), and soon also extraordinary profits from frozen Russian assets, which, in the case of a lack of agreement, may not be adequately utilised - claims an EU source from PAP. Member states have already agreed to use the profits from frozen Russian assets in the EU, but Hungary is now blocking their transfer to Kyiv under the EPF.

Hadja Lahbib, the minister of Belgium, who is currently presiding in the EU Council, criticised Budapest's veto. She expressed her dissatisfaction, saying: "We cannot accept that a single country, which also signed up to this amount a few months ago at the heads of state’s Council meeting, is now blocking this crucial aid for Ukraine."

Gabrielius Landsbergis, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, said "we looked into this and apparently about 41% of resolutions by (the) EU on Ukraine have been blocked by Hungary. It has it has gone very, very far," He appealed for the Union to "find a way, really, as a community to work around this."