“I don’t know how the situation will change even after just a quarter.”
“If the EU accepts it, it will help Ukraine.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has repeatedly opposed European Union (EU) support for Ukraine.
According to the Guardian on the 16th (local time), Prime Minister Orban held a joint press conference with Slovak Prime Minister Roberto Pizzo in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, saying, “If we want to do what we need to do, which is to help Ukraine, we have to do it in a way that does not harm the EU budget.” “It must be done,” he said.
This is consistent with what he has continued to say. Previously, Prime Minister Orbán argued that EU-level support should be replaced with short-term support, and that funds should be raised not from the EU budget but from contributions from individual countries that wish to deliver.
He continued, “However, putting aside 50 billion euros from the EU budget for four years in advance is a violation of the EU’s sovereignty and national interests,” and pointed out, “We don’t know what will happen after just the first quarter.”
“Any financial institution for Ukraine must be separate from the EU budget,” he said, adding, “Hungary’s proposal to create such a mechanism is based on aid distribution based on gross national income (GNI).”
He added, “If the EU accepts a plan outside of budget support, it will help Ukraine,” but added, “If not, it will be a pity to stop this process.”
The Hungarian Prime Minister continues to block EU aid to Ukraine.
Prime Minister Orbán also blocked an increase in the EU’s long-term budget that would enable support for Ukraine at the EU summit last month. The plan aims to allocate 50 billion euros over four years as an item to support Ukraine.
When Prime Minister Orban takes over as EU rotating president in July, internal conflicts among member states over support for Ukraine are expected to intensify.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.