Hungary Blocks EU Military Aid Plan for Ukraine

Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has blocked a European Union draft document proposing security guarantees and a €20 billion military aid package for Ukraine.

Orbán criticized European leaders' decisions to continue backing Ukraine, saying, "European leaders decided in London today that they want to go on with the war instead of opting for peace. This is bad, dangerous and mistaken. Hungary remains on the side of peace," he wrote on X.

This move highlights Hungary’s opposition to continued military support and its call for peace talks with Russia.

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto also rejected the €20 billion package, arguing that it could obstruct potential peace negotiations between Russia and the United States.

In a letter to European Council President Antonio Costa, Orbán urged the EU to follow the U.S. example and engage directly with Russia on a ceasefire. He stated that there were "strategic differences" within the EU regarding Ukraine that "cannot be bridged."

The U.S., under former President Donald Trump, recently held talks with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine without including Kyiv or the EU.

Orbán also voiced strong opposition to Ukraine’s accession to the EU, warning that it would harm Hungary’s economy and agricultural sector. He stated that Ukraine's membership under current conditions was "unthinkable."

Hungary has previously used its veto power to delay EU decisions on Ukraine, including military aid and sanctions. Budapest has demanded the removal of eight individuals from the EU's Russia sanctions list and guarantees on Ukraine’s gas transit negotiations.

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico echoed Hungary’s stance, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of Russian gas transit through Ukraine. Fico warned that the European Council might fail to reach a consensus on Ukraine if alternative views are not considered.

EU member states require unanimous approval for decisions on Ukraine, giving Hungary and Slovakia leverage to block future agreements.