Hungary Digs In Against EU Military Aid for Ukraine

Hungary's decision to veto European Union plans to provide billions in military aid to Ukraine is causing increasing frustration in Brussels. As Budapest digs in its heels, refusing to wave through the assistance packages, dismay is spreading among fellow member states.

When EU foreign ministers convened recently, tensions quickly boiled over. Even before the meeting commenced, Lithuania's top diplomat Gabrielius Landsbergis accused Hungary of systematically obstructing the bloc's foreign policy positions. "Almost all of our discussions and needed solutions and decisions by the EU are being blocked by just one country," he declared to reporters.

Continued blockade
The blockage stretches back a year, when Budapest first refused to endorse a €500 million tranche from the European Peace Facility (EPF) - an off-budget tool allowing partial reimbursements to nations providing military gear to Kyiv. Diplomats had hoped for a new €6.6 billion EPF package this week, including €860 million for arms procurement. That aspiration crumbled against Hungarian resistance.
It's merely the latest in a lengthening list of Budapest's roadblocks hampering aid to Ukraine. "We have to start seeing this as a systematic approach towards any efforts by the EU to have any meaningful role in foreign affairs," Landsbergis lamented of Hungary's recalcitrance.
For its part, Hungary – the EU's most pro-Russian member – claims its objections initially stemmed from an unofficial Ukrainian list labeling a Hungarian bank - OTP - as a "war sponsor." But as one diplomat stated, "that listing has disappeared." The goalposts keep shifting, with Budapest's foreign minister now alleging Ukrainian discrimination against Hungarian companies.

Tempers running high
With EU foreign policy decisions requiring unanimity, Hungary's veto holds inordinate sway. "Tempers ran quite high," one diplomat revealed of the ministerial confrontation, which multiple officials described as among the most heated in years.
In comments on Facebook, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said: "German, Irish, Polish colleagues created a scene, but that could not change our position, regardless of what the war-favoring politicians are shouting."
"We cannot accept that a single country, which also signed in favor of this amount a few months ago during a summit between heads of state, is now blocking this crucial aid for Ukraine," said Belgium's Hadja Lahbib, upon arriving at the meeting. "We must absolutely assume our responsibilities and do what is necessary to help Ukraine militarily," she added.
As Landsbergis pointed out, around 41% of EU resolutions on Ukraine have faced a Hungarian blockade – extending to obstructing Kyiv's EU membership talks and negotiations with Georgia and Armenia. "It has gone very, very far," he stated gravely. "We have to find a way, really, as a community to work around this."
From the heights of power in Brussels, the Hungarian roadblock casts a lengthening shadow over European unity and resolve to back Ukraine. How this deepening rift will be bridged remains unclear.