Ukraine blackmail backfires. EU freezes billions for Hungary - Media
Photo: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (Getty Images)
The European Union has decided "not to rush" the approval of a loan plan for Hungary under the SAFE defense program. The main reason is that Budapest has blocked €90 billion in funding for Ukraine, RMF24 informs.
According to the outlet, Hungary’s loan plan worth more than €16 billion has been frozen.
Officially, the European Commission insists that "the assessment is ongoing, and the Commission will approve Hungary’s plan when it is ready."
However, RMF24 reports that the situation is tied to Hungary’s veto on providing Ukraine with a €90 billion loan.
"It is difficult for the European Commission to agree to billions of euros for Viktor Orbán when he is violating the principle of 'sincere cooperation' and blocking funding for a country at war with Russia," an unnamed EU diplomat told journalists.
According to the report, the final straw leading to the freeze of the loan plan was the stance of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who confirmed at the latest EU summit that he was blocking the loan for Ukraine.
RMF FM notes that Hungary is highly interested in SAFE funds.
The European Union is also dissatisfied that Hungarian authorities are blocking the adoption of the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, which was planned to be approved by the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Hungary blocks loan for Ukraine
Back in December last year, EU leaders agreed to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion loan.
However, Hungary recently blocked the procedural decisions needed to deliver this assistance.
The main reason was the halt in the transit of Russian oil to Hungary via Ukraine after a Russian strike on the Druzhba pipeline at the end of January.
Hungarian authorities have blamed Ukraine for the lack of Russian oil supplies. Budapest has also begun blocking all EU decisions related to assistance for Ukraine.
