Hungary is about to block EU’s €18 billion for Ukraine

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said the country will not back EU efforts to aid Ukraine with jointly raised funds, Bloomberg reported.

At a conference in Sofia on Monday, Szijjarto said Hungary has provided and will continue to provide support for Kyiv on a bilateral basis while opposing any “arrangement that would see funding jointly with other EU member states.”

Today, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to propose a substantial financial package from the EU of up to €1.5 billion a month, totaling up to €18 billion, which would contribute significantly to cover Ukraine’s financing needs for 2023. This move will require the unanimous backing of the EU’s 27 member states.