[1/3]Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy while attending the swearing-in ceremony of Argentina’s next president, Javier Millei, at the National Assembly in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 10, 2023.Reuters/Matthias Balliet Obtaining license rights
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union’s biggest powers are set to square off with Hungary this week over billions of euros in aid to Ukraine and the chance to start accession talks, but they are at war with Russia. Both are important goals for Kiev as the country remains stagnant.
European Union (EU) leaders will hold a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday to decide on a plan to give Kyiv 50 billion euros in economic aid, allocate another 20 billion euros to Ukraine’s military and start accession negotiations. It’s planned.
Securing new financial aid from Europe is critical as doubts grow over future U.S. support for Kiev, which relies on Western funding in its war with Russia.
But Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who boasts close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, threatened to veto aid and expansion talks at the December 14-15 summit.
All three decisions, as well as a fourth on the EU’s 12 sanctions against Russia since the invasion began in February 2022, require the unanimous support of all 27 countries in the region.
“We are at a critical moment,” a senior EU official said, citing the ongoing stalemate on the battlefield and the failure of the U.S. Congress to approve President Joe Biden’s $60 billion aid package for Ukraine. Stated.
“It is very important that the European Union shows clear and full support for Ukraine,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “That message will not only be for Moscow, but also for Washington and Kiev.”
Europe’s own credibility is also at stake, as the European Union has previously vowed to support Ukraine for as long as necessary.
“We look forward to a positive decision,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Sunday night. “Europe must resolutely defend its values and unity.”
what oban wants
This is not the first time Mr Orbán has caused a stir in the European Union.
Hungary has eased sanctions against Russia and in December vetoed a deal that would give Ukraine 18 billion euros in 2023.
Negotiations over EU aid to Hungary were blocked for several days due to concerns about democratic backsliding under Orbán’s government, but the aid was finally allowed to pass.
The Executive European Commission is expected to release Budapest’s access to 10 billion euros this week, as the EU seeks again to win support for Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Ukraine.
In opposing the start of accession talks with Kiev, Mr. Orbán initially complained about Ukraine’s treatment of its Hungarian minority. He has since said Ukraine is too corrupt and not ready to join the EU.
He called on the Ukrainian side to hold “strategic discussions” about aid to Kiev instead of deciding on new aid to Ukraine.
Diplomats said that if Hungary vetoed Ukraine, related bids by Georgia and Bosnia – both backed by Prime Minister Orbán – to advance their EU membership hopes would fail.
“We felt that Mr. Orban knew exactly how far he could go and when to step down from the tree,” a second senior EU diplomat said.
Those expecting Prime Minister Orban to make concessions said the start of negotiations with Ukraine could be delayed until March under the final terms. But some worry that Hungarian leaders will not be persuaded this time.
Orbán will be up against German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and others who have said Berlin supports starting negotiations for Kiev to join the EU one day.
Financial aid and military aid
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán may be the most vocal critic of increased aid to Ukraine, but a ruling by Germany’s Constitutional Court last month left EU negotiations in jeopardy by blowing a massive hole in the budgets of the wealthiest member states. made it even more complicated.
If Hungary vetoes the allocation of €50 billion to Ukraine through the bloc’s common budget, the other EU26 countries could bilaterally increase their contributions to Kiev, but this would be more complex and costly. This is a method that takes a lot of time.
There is also uncertainty over the future of EU military aid to Ukraine, which Russia currently controls nearly a fifth of its territory.
A proposal to use the European Peace Facility (EPF), an EU-run military fund, to give Ukraine 20 billion euros in arms and other aid over the next four years has met resistance from Germany.
Some EU member states have asked at the summit to commit to at least 5 billion euros in contributions to Ukraine through the EPF next year, a plan that EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss with their Ukrainian counterparts on Monday.
Despite the bleak outlook, some diplomats in Brussels believe the EU will avoid the worst-case scenario and fulfill some of its commitments to Ukraine.
Another EU official said: “Will it be difficult? Yes. Very difficult? Most likely. Will there be blood at some point? Probably.” “But I continue to think it’s possible to find a solution.”
Written by: Gabriela Bachinska Edited by: Nick Zieminski
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