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BUDAPEST: Hungarian PM Viktor Orban vetoed a big European Union aid package for Kyiv on Friday, and said he could still halt Ukraine‘s accession after EU leaders approved the start of lengthy membership talks.
Leaders of all 27 EU states except Hungary agreed at a summit on Thursday to start accession talks with Ukraine despite Russia’s invasion of its neighbour, bypassing Orban’s grievances by getting him to leave the room.
But they could not overcome resistance from Orban to a revamp of the EU budget to channel 50 billion euros ($55 billion) to Ukraine and provide more cash for other tasks such as managing migration.
EU leaders said they would continue to help Kyiv. If no deal is found to do so within the EU budget, they will find workarounds, possibly with bilateral aid, they said.
The Kremlin praised Orban’s stance, which spokesman Dmitry Peskov said impressed Moscow, while criticising the EU, saying the decision to open membership talks was a politicised one that could destabilise the bloc.
Orban, who has a history of trying to use disagreements with other EU leaders for his electoral benefit, said he blocked the aid package – part of a broader multi-year EU budget plan – to ensure Budapest gets funds from the EU budget that are frozen over concerns about the rule of law in Hungary. “It is a great opportunity for Hungary to make it clear that it must get what it is entitled to. Not half of it, or one-fourth,” he said.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hailed the approval of membership talks as a victory for Ukraine and Europe.
Orban said Hungary could still block the talks at any time. “This is a bad decision,” he said. “We can halt this process later on, and if needed we will pull the brakes.”
EU leaders, who would prefer a deal backed by all members but also have a plan B, are expected to revisit the issue at an emergency summit at the end of January or in February. All except Orban agreed to provide Ukraine with 50 billion euros over four years, but his veto blocked the aid as the decision requires unanimity.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron were among those expressing optimism on getting aid to Kyiv.
Ukraine is unlikely to join the EU for many years, but the decision at the summit took it a step closer to its long-term strategic goal of anchoring itself in the West and leaving Russia’s orbit. EU leaders reconvened on Friday to discuss other topics including Israel-Hamas war.
Leaders of all 27 EU states except Hungary agreed at a summit on Thursday to start accession talks with Ukraine despite Russia’s invasion of its neighbour, bypassing Orban’s grievances by getting him to leave the room.
But they could not overcome resistance from Orban to a revamp of the EU budget to channel 50 billion euros ($55 billion) to Ukraine and provide more cash for other tasks such as managing migration.
EU leaders said they would continue to help Kyiv. If no deal is found to do so within the EU budget, they will find workarounds, possibly with bilateral aid, they said.
The Kremlin praised Orban’s stance, which spokesman Dmitry Peskov said impressed Moscow, while criticising the EU, saying the decision to open membership talks was a politicised one that could destabilise the bloc.
Orban, who has a history of trying to use disagreements with other EU leaders for his electoral benefit, said he blocked the aid package – part of a broader multi-year EU budget plan – to ensure Budapest gets funds from the EU budget that are frozen over concerns about the rule of law in Hungary. “It is a great opportunity for Hungary to make it clear that it must get what it is entitled to. Not half of it, or one-fourth,” he said.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hailed the approval of membership talks as a victory for Ukraine and Europe.
Orban said Hungary could still block the talks at any time. “This is a bad decision,” he said. “We can halt this process later on, and if needed we will pull the brakes.”
EU leaders, who would prefer a deal backed by all members but also have a plan B, are expected to revisit the issue at an emergency summit at the end of January or in February. All except Orban agreed to provide Ukraine with 50 billion euros over four years, but his veto blocked the aid as the decision requires unanimity.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron were among those expressing optimism on getting aid to Kyiv.
Ukraine is unlikely to join the EU for many years, but the decision at the summit took it a step closer to its long-term strategic goal of anchoring itself in the West and leaving Russia’s orbit. EU leaders reconvened on Friday to discuss other topics including Israel-Hamas war.
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