A large number of EU resolutions on Ukraine are being blocked by Hungary, said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.
Hungary is digging in and refusing to wave through billions in military aid for Ukraine, prompting growing dismay among other EU countries.
"I have to calm myself [when] I talk about this issue, because it’s getting really ridiculous now,” a senior EU diplomat said of the standoff with Hungary, speaking before Monday’s meeting of EU foreign ministers. “What’s happening is outrageous.”
Diplomats had hoped to have a new €6.6 billion package ready ahead of this week’s meetings of foreign and defense ministers in Brussels. The deal included €860 million for arms procurement, reported by POLITICO last week.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
BRUSSELS — Hungary is digging in and refusing to wave through billions in military aid for Ukraine, prompting growing dismay among other EU countries.
Budapest, the EU’s most pro-Russian member, has blocked partial reimbursements for arms sent to Ukraine under the off-budget European Peace Facility (EPF) for almost a year.
There was a political agreement a few weeks ago to allow for the creation of the €5 billion Ukraine Assistance Fund under the EPF, but in recent days Hungary has again been hunting for reasons to kill the whole package.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who often clashes with Szijjártó, said all of the EU is paying a price for supporting Ukraine, citing the example of energy.
After the meeting, Szijjártó warned of an “insane” idea of imposing compulsory conscription across Europe to bolster Ukraine’s diminishing manpower, saying Hungary wanted no part of such a scheme.
Ministers from the Baltics, as well as EU top diplomat Josep Borrell, asked Szijjártó for more details on the alleged discrimination that Hungarian companies faced, and also criticized Budapest.
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