„The European Peace Facility is unfortunately still being vetoed by Hungary,” announced Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski in Brussels, during the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting. He emphasized that Poland is entitled to receive two billion PLN from the fund. „I would like to understand the reasons why Hungary does not want to help Ukraine in its fight for freedom and instead chooses to favor the aggressor in this conflict,” he said.

The European Peace Facility (EPF) is an EU-managed fund, functioning outside the Union’s official budget. It is designed to finance actions that support the maintenance of peace and international security.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, most of the funds were intended for EU member states providing arms to Kyiv. The mechanism works by having a country supply military equipment and ammunition to Ukraine and subsequently seek reimbursement for its expenses from Brussels.

However, successive tranches, which require unanimous approval by member states, have been blocked by Hungary for months. As a result, approximately 6.6 billion euros have not been disbursed to EU member states from the EPF.

Sikorski: Poland Advocated for Ukraine’s Right to Target Russia for Months

Minister Sikorski also commented in Brussels on U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to strike targets in Russian territory using American weapons. He stated that Poland had been advocating for such a decision for many months. While the full scope of the U.S. administration’s decision remains unclear, Sikorski emphasized that it is a response to North Korea sending soldiers to join the war against Ukraine and to recent Russian attacks on Ukraine.

„Ukraine, as a victim of aggression, has the right to defend itself,” Sikorski stated. He added that while the U.S. decision was not officially on the agenda of Monday’s meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, it was discussed on the sidelines and welcomed by member states with satisfaction.