Worthy Christian News > World News > Hungary Blocks $54 Billion To Ukraine; Move Praised By Russia

Hungary Blocks $54 Billion To Ukraine; Move Praised By Russia

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

KYIV/MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Ukraine faced a major defeat Friday that could potentially impact the outcome of its war against Russia as Hungary vetoed 50 billion euros ($54 billion) in European Union aid to the wartorn nation.

The setback came on top of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky leaving Washington empty-handed this week as U.S. President Joe Biden could not unlock a crucial $60 billion package for more weapons and aid to Ukraine.

Biden accused Republicans of “holding Ukraine funding hostage” over their demands for stricter border policies woven into the deal.

Back in Brussels, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blocked an EU aid package to Ukraine to ensure Budapest gets billions frozen over worries about the rule of law in Hungary.

He recalled that the EU restored Hungary’s access to 10.2 billion euros ($11.1 billion) in frozen funds this week, but 21.1 billion euros ($23 billion) remain locked. Blocking aid to Ukraine “is a great opportunity for Hungary to make it clear that it must get what it is entitled to,” he told Hungary’s state-run radio.

The hold-up from Orbán, Russia’s closest ally in the EU, underscored concerns in Kyiv that Western backing is waning nearly two years into Moscow’s s-ordered military invasion of Ukraine.

Russia praised Hungary for blocking the aid, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying Budapest “in contrast to many European countries, firmly defends its interests, which impresses us.”

CONDEMNING ACCESSION TALKS

However, he condemned the decision by the EU to open accession talks with Ukraine and fellow ex-Soviet state Moldova and make Georgia a formal candidate to join.

“This is absolutely a politicized decision – the EU’s desire to show support to these countries in this way. But certainly, such new members can actually destabilize the EU,” Peskov stressed.

“Everything is being done to annoy Russia and antagonize these countries towards Russia,” he argued.

While Hungary opposed the opening of EU membership talks with Ukraine, it did not veto the move. Instead, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz successfully proposed to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to leave the room to avoid endorsing a decision to open EU talks.

Thursday’s decision on EU enlargement talks sent a strong signal to the Kremlin, Scholz claimed after an EU summit in Brussels on Friday.

He warned Moscow it was “a miscalculation” by Russian President Vladimir Putin that support for Ukraine is waning, despite Kyiv’s troubles to get more financial backing. Separately, EU leaders, who would prefer a deal backed by all members but also have a plan B, will revisit the multibillion-euro aid package for Ukraine at an emergency summit at the end of January or early February.

“We are working very hard to have an agreement by 27 member states,” the EU’s European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, adding: “But I think it is now also necessary to work on potential alternatives to have an operational solution in case that an agreement by 27, so unanimity, is not possible.”

Yet for now, Ukraine faced another bleak Christmas after making little progress on the battlefields in a war that is believed to have killed and injured hundreds of people while displacing millions.