Hungary blocks EU from giving Ukraine EUR 500 million for weapons
Hungary has blocked the disbursement of the eighth instalment of the European Peace Facility (EPF) for arms to Ukraine.
Hungary blocks Ukraine from getting EUR 500M for weapons
The instalment to be disbursed is worth EUR 500 million. It was due to be paid next Monday. The Italian newspaper ANSA reports that Hungary did not approve the grant because it demanded guarantees that the EPF would not use the money exclusively to arm Kyiv, but would maintain its “global horizon” in the future.
The European Peace Facility was created by the European Council to help Member States better strengthen international security, Telex writes. In the Russia-Ukraine war, Member States are buying arms for Ukraine through the EPF.
An answer to Zelenskyy’s leaked plans?
As we reported on Monday, according to a leaked US intelligence wiretap, Volodymyr Zelenskyy planned to destroy Hungarian industry. The Ukrainian president cited pro-Russianism as a reason. The statement was made in mid-February 2023. During a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Yuliya Svyrydenko, Zelenskyy suggested “blowing up” the Druzhba pipeline, which also supplies Hungary.
On the morning of Tuesday, Index published an energy analysis in this context. In the article, the experts interviewed stated that if the Ukrainian president decides to blow up the Druzhba pipeline, all oil supplies to Hungary would be diverted to the Adria oil pipeline, which would theoretically satisfy most of the Hungarian refinery demand.
The Hungarian government’s reaction
The Hungarian government has told Index that it is outraged by Zelenskyy’s remarks. This is compounded by the fact that the OTP Group has been placed on the sanctions list. As they wrote: this is why they have blocked the use of the European Peace Facility.
In its response to Index, the government also said that Raiffeisen has a much larger presence in Russia. Yet, the Ukrainians are not sanctioning it, only the Hungarian bank. As long as Ukraine does not correct this, the Hungarian position will not change. The government’s position is that “sanctions are written in Brussels and not in Kyiv”.
The EU will need to find a way to overcome Hungary’s continual sabotage of assistance to Ukraine. The best would be if Hungary was simply shown the door and kicked out of the organization entirely.
Concur Larry.
Orban just continues to SELF Destruct the Membership of Hungary as a member of the European Union.
It’s beyond any process of RECONCILIATION or finding a “middle ground” – that Orban has TAKEN Hungary – in the case of Hungary remaining a member of the European Union.
DEMOCRACY is FINISHED in Hungary, and its just a matter of time, sooner than later, that Hungary will be De-listed as a member of the European Union.
WHO will move to expel Hungary out of the European Union?
Membership numbers would be in FAVOUR of OUTING Hungary.
Monies on an expulsion or a withdrawing of membership to the European Union, would see monies repaid in the settlement arrangements to Hungary.
Pay Hungary out – get rid of the Orban “disease” machine festering playing Political Games as he has for 13 years – and send Orban/Hungary packing.
Orban has chosen who he FAVOURS which we know are DICTATORSHIPS not Democracy’s – in China & Russia and let Orban/Hungary – sink that will be as it is a CAPITULALING country & Economy.
Hungary 9.6 million in population – an ageing population – they HAVE continued to support and THINK that Orban is the Man – the FUTURE of Hungary, by his Political Ideas & Philosophy – LAUGHABLE.
Hungary – now this PRESENT period in time – absolutely Financially RAVAGED – torn apart, segregated, separated and divided – a country – with NO means, through its Financial ruination by Orban, to finding STABILITY nor Stabilization as a country – ALL of Orbans DOINGS – and its sliding further into an ABYSS.
The LEGACY of Victor Orban to Hungary – it will be UGLY – in what he LEAVES to attempt SALVAGE or Clean up – and it won’t be as a DEMOCRACY.
The EU/America should stop sending weapons to Ukraine that only escalate the war. Instead bring it to the negotiating table, but the ‘hardliners America/UK they don’t like that, they prefer the continuation of this war until the last Ukrainian.
Good. Your and my money is being funneled in catastrophic-flood levels into the pockets of the military-industrial scumbags who are rubbing their hands with glee. A couple days ago, a spanking new air-missile system in Kiev that cost the U.S. taxpayers more than $150billion to provide to Ukraine was blown to smithereens by a single Russian rocket. I support Ukraine over Russia, but this is getting ridiculous.
Again Orbán chooses the path of peace, what ridiculous notion to call it ‘european peace facility’ and then sending arms i.e. supporting war! Hungary should get out of the corrupt and autoritarian EU asap. Ukraine is being sacrificed on the altar of globalism, and no western country has even the slightest motivation to negotiate. The US is trying to postpone its collapse through this proxy war against the EU and Russia, but it will not work.
@petrus – when you stop supplying weapons … What do you think will happen to Ukraine? Do we really want a new neighbour?
Here’s an interesting rundown – hear the guy out (US infantryman – his bias is actually conservative), also some observations regarding “special operation” and the reason why peace negotiations may not be happening, also from the Russian standpoint:
https://youtu.be/SFnJQjlVk84
Hungary seems to be the only EU country that is willing to see Ukraine occupied by Russia since that is the only outcome Russia will accept from negotiations. We cannot let Russia to occupy a country by force, it will only make Russian leaders want to attack again into other countries. Ukraine needs all the weapons and other help we can give so that European countries don´t have to fight against the Russian invasion army in the future. It has already been seen that Russian leaders do not respect any agreements anyway, Russian terrorist invasion army needs to be forced back to Russia.
@stukatotherescue : Leave the EU … And do what ???
Join the UK – their Sovereign Go It Alone is legendary, by now (growth, immigration, inflation)? Or strategically align with Russia or China? Anything I’m missing here? Would LOVE to read the options realistically available!
Money of the hardworking EU citizens should not be wasted on the Ukrainian war. There must be better uses for that money, e.g., deporting illegal aliens and giving Italy back to the Italians.