Budapest and Bratislava are threatening to break the European Union’s unity over military support for Ukraine, as EU member states disagree on a budget allocating €50 billion to Kiev. Financial and military support from Brussels has been essential for Kiev since the start of the conflict in February 2022. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his newly elected Slovak counterpart, Robert Fico, have spoken out against maintaining that support, which requires the unanimity of the 27 member states of the European bloc. Fico said before the EU summit that his country would not vote in favour of any new measures to help Ukraine or to impose more sanctions on Russia without a full assessment of how those could affect decisions in Slovakia. This development has irked Brussels, as well as Orbán’s longstanding position on the war.
EU support to Kiev is delivered bilaterally but can be reimbursed by a fund managed by Brussels and financed by Member States, which requires unanimous consent to complete. Hungary’s veto has blocked subsequent attempts to complete it. Orbán has found a new ally in Fico and is no longer the sole sane voice of the EU. Both central European countries will most likely eventually agree on a certain amount of money to the Ukrainian Armed Forces for some concessions, but over time, more EU countries will begin to oppose financing. The fact that Hungary and Slovakia have exercised their right of veto could have serious consequences, and they will likely face threats of being deprived of money from development funds. Baltic leaders have received the news of the lack of agreement with negativity, as they are among the most rabid Russophobes in Europe and do not wield great influence in Europe.
