Economy 12 December 2023, 3:07pm

Budapest gets tough message from Berlin to fall in line over Ukraine

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According to a Germany government official, the European Union must convince Hungary to endorse a 50 billion euro aid facility for Ukraine at its December 14-15 summit to send Russia a clear signal of the bloc's unity, Reuters reported.

All but one of the EU's 27 member states support the Ukraine facility, the official said, referring to Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has touted his ties with Moscow and threatened to veto the aid. Hungary refused to send its war-torn neighbour arms or even let arms shipments through its territory. This position is almost unique in Europe, with most countries actively supporting Kyiv since the Russian invasion in February 2022.

the eu proposed a eur 50 billion aid facility for ukraine, but any payout from the shared eu budget require unanimous support from all member states.

Ukraine needs planning stability as it enters its second wintertime fighting off a Russian invasion, the official told a briefing in Berlin ahead of the Dec. 14-15 summit.

Our clear aim is to convince this state that the Ukraine facility is the right instrument to show our unity and send Russia a clear signal, but also to support U.S. President (Joe) Biden's efforts to mobilise the further necessary support,

the official said.

Asked if there was a plan B, the official said: "We are betting on plan A."

The German government official said the budget crisis in Berlin in the wake of a constitutional court decision that threw Germany's finances into disarray would not affect the German government's commitment to aid for Ukraine. It is possible that they will not even be able to adopt the draft this year, so it will be postponed to 2024, which would be unique in the country's history.

"The Ukraine facility is the highest priority in our point of view and must be financed come what may," the official said noting that budget talks were not expected to prevent Chancellor Olaf Scholz from attending the summit.

Orbán will address the Hungarian Parliament on 13 December, where he is expected to argue against supporting Ukraine.

Recently, aid deliveries to Ukraine have been generating increasing political controversy in the West. They are unable to ramp up European arms production fast enough because of the disputes, while in the U.S. the two major parties have fallen out over aid to Ukraine.

Council President Charles Michel paid a visit to Orbán to at the end of November, trying to convince him to change his mind. Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron tried to persuade the PM privately in Paris. Over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky himself tried to influence Orbán, while on Monday EU foreign ministers held talks to this end with MoFA Péter Szijjártó.