2023-10-27 12:19:26
The EU heads of state and government are discussing further aid to Ukraine in Brussels. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said on Friday that she hoped Hungary and Slovakia would agree to the planned 50 billion euro Ukraine aid package by the end of the year, but “we are far from an agreement on the EU financial framework.” The majority of EU states remain strongly behind Ukraine.
According to Kallas, the heads of government of Hungary and Slovakia, Viktor Orban and Robert Fico, expressed their opinions on aid to Ukraine. However, the question of an alternative to supporting Ukraine remained “unanswered by them”.
According to AFP, the new Slovak Prime Minister Fico called Ukraine “one of the most corrupt countries in the world” and called for guarantees once morest the misuse of funds. He also demanded that part of the money go towards securing the Slovakian-Ukrainian border and benefit domestic companies that contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Fico is considered pro-Russian and has already announced a halt to his country’s military aid to Ukraine. The left-wing populist only took office this week.
Luxembourg’s outgoing Prime Minister Xavier Bettel reiterated his criticism of Orban following his recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “What he did with Putin is a stinking finger for all the soldiers and the Ukrainians who die every day and who die under Russian attacks.” Bettel accused Hungary of blackmail, with Orban declaring: “If they need money for Ukraine, we also need money for ourselves.”
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said the EU must not let up on aid to Ukraine now. EU Council President Charles Michel was optimistic that it would still be possible to reach a consensus decision.
Orban previously spoke out once morest the proposal presented within the European Union to grant Ukraine 50 billion euros in aid. The EU’s strategy in Ukraine has failed, Orban told Hungarian state broadcaster on the sidelines of the EU summit in Brussels, according to Archyde.com. Ukraine will not win on the front. The EU must develop an alternative plan. There was a “big fight” at the EU summit, especially over support for Ukraine. Orban emphasized that he sees no reason to allow Hungarian tax money to flow into the EU budget for aid to Ukraine.
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