Hungary unlocks EU funds that could boost Ukraine's air defenses, media says
Photo: Péter Magyar (Getty Images)
Hungary has unblocked the €6.6 billion to Ukraine from the European Peace Facility. The funds will be directed toward protecting Ukraine's skies, reports Nepszava.
According to the outlet's sources, a decision on the use of funds from the European Peace Facility has already been agreed upon by European ambassadors. The last Hungarian veto on financing Ukraine's defense needs has been lifted.
A final decision on the specific use of the allocated billions has not yet been made. But the European Union is expected to direct this support toward strengthening Ukraine's air defense.
For two years, Hungary consistently blocked the European Union from providing funds to support Ukraine's defense capabilities.
The European External Action Service is expected to present a draft law on the payment of €6.6 billion to Ukraine. The document must then go through the approval process by all member states of the bloc.
Ukraine has already called on its international partners to allocate part of the unblocked funds toward the purchase of additional Patriot air defense systems and ammunition for them.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized that EU countries could use the reimbursed resources to purchase American air defense systems under NATO's Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) program.
As Politico previously reported, Hungary may agree to unblock the start of Ukraine's EU accession talks after consultations on the rights of the Hungarian national minority.
If a positive decision is made, Ukraine and Moldova will be able to move to the next stage of European integration — opening the first negotiating cluster.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he sees real prospects for improving relations between Kyiv and Budapest.
