Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday blocked the signing of a €50 billion European aid deal for Ukraine, the largest of its kind proposed by the EU to a country under Russian invasion, demanding a freeze on funds frozen by the EU to Hungary.
Orban said: "I've always said that if someone wants to amend the EU budget law, and they want to do it for a number of reasons, this is a great opportunity for Hungary to make it clear that it should get what it deserves, not a half, not a quarter, it should get everything."
Orban is referring to tens of billions of euros frozen by the European Union as sanctions over Orban's political conduct in Hungary, which contravenes the EU's constitution and restricts political freedom in the country.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. "Victory for Ukraine, victory for Europe," photo: AFP
Orban used Hungary's veto power in voting on changes to European law, which need to be approved by all EU member states. Since the war in Ukraine began, Orban's regime has sided with Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin.
On Monday, the European Union decided to open talks on Ukraine's and Moldova's accession to the EU, a historic milestone on Kyiv's path to possible EU membership. Orban, who opposes Ukraine's accession to the EU, abstained from the vote and left the hall.
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