Slovakia supports Hungary's veto of €50 billion aid to Ukraine
Viktor Orban and Robert Fico (Getty Images)
Slovakia's Prime Minister, Robert Fico, has backed the veto of his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orban, regarding €50 billion financial aid to Ukraine over four years, according to Reuters.
Orban, during a joint press conference with Fico, said that any financial instrument for Ukraine should be separate from the EU budget. He proposes the establishment of a mechanism for aid to Ukraine based on the distribution of assistance according to gross national income.
"But to give away 50 billion euros from the EU budget for four years in advance is a violation of the EU's sovereignty and national interests. We do not even know what will happen in a quarter of a year," said Orban.
Fico said Slovakia supported Hungary in fighting for its interests and that his government would not support any measures limiting Budapest's rights inside the EU. He asserted that Orban's disagreement with changes to the EU budget is "legitimate."
"The Slovak government will support proposals the premier of Hungary has already put forward or will put forward," Fico said.
Backstory
Previously, the European Commission proposed allocating 50 billion euros to Ukraine for the years 2024-2027. EU leaders were considering this initiative at the summit on December 14-15. However, Hungary vetoed the decision.
The issue of aid to Ukraine will be discussed at the EU summit on February 1. Although Hungarian Prime Minister Orban claims that he will block the issue.
A petition has been initiated in the European Parliament to strip Hungary of its voting rights in the EU Council. Within four days, it was announced that the necessary number of signatures had been collected.
The European Parliament will consider the deprivation of Hungary's voting rights tomorrow, January 18.
