Hungary sets conditions for EU to agree to 50 billion euros in aid to Ukraine

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (Photo: EPA).

In an interview with French newspaper Le Point , Mr. Orban confirmed that Hungary last weekend sent a compromise to the EU regarding the approval of a proposal to provide 50 billion euros (about 55 billion USD) in aid to Ukraine over 4 years.

The Hungarian prime minister revealed that under the compromise, he would agree to EU aid to Ukraine “if the union guarantees that the decision to continue sending money to Kiev will be reviewed annually.” This means that Hungary would have the opportunity to block EU aid packages to Ukraine every year.

This annual consensus needs to be agreed by all other EU members, he noted.

"Unfortunately, some countries see Hungary's position as a move aimed at intimidation. Our position is not to use our veto to blackmail anyone, but to restore and maintain the unity of the European Union," he said.

Last week, an EU official revealed that negotiations to approve a four-year, €50 billion financial assistance program for Ukraine were becoming more difficult as Hungary refused to make concessions ahead of a summit on February 1.

In addition, in the interview, Mr. Orban made statements praising former US President Donald Trump, emphasizing that Mr. Trump has the ability to "build peace ".

Mr Orban described Mr Trump as "the most successful US president on the international stage".

"Mr. Trump did not start any wars (during his presidency). The Abraham Accords (on normalizing relations between Israel and Arab states) are the only serious opportunity to bring peace, balance and an acceptable path to a very complicated Middle East region," the Hungarian Prime Minister said.

Mr. Orban is confident that if Mr. Donald Trump becomes US president in February 2022, "there will be no war in Europe."

"Today, I don't see any other leader in Europe or America strong enough to stop war. Peace has a name: Donald Trump," Mr. Orban said.

Mr Orban has previously expressed his support for Mr Trump on several occasions, saying that “if Mr Trump were president, the war would not have started” in Ukraine and that Mr Trump’s return would “bring peace”.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/hungary-neu-dieu-kien-de-dong-thuan-cho-eu-vien-tro-ukraine-50-ty-euro-20240130221818128.htm