Hungary came under “great pressure” to explain their continued obstruction of EU military aid to Ukraine at a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said on Monday.
Budapest is blocking reimbursements from the European Peace Facility (EPF), an off-budget fund used for military equipment, as well as payments from the profits of immobilized Russian assets in the European Union, Tsahkna said in an interview with dpa.
“We always have discussions with Hungary,” he said, referring to previous disputes over financial aid to Ukraine and the opening of EU accession negotiations with the country. “But now we have to deliver.”
Currently, €1.5 billion ($1.63 billion) from the EPF is blocked by Hungary. Another EUR 5 billion from the Ukraine Assistance Fund, a specific amount of EUR 5 billion from the EPF, is also blocked.
Tsahkna noted the growing annoyance among EU countries. No one now understands the reason “why they are blocking,” he said.
There was clear frustration among EU foreign ministers in Brussels over Hungary’s continued blockade of EU decisions requiring unanimity.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said that “apparently about 41% of EU resolutions on Ukraine have been blocked by Hungary.”
‘We need to see this as a systematic approach to all EU efforts [the] The EU must play a meaningful role in foreign affairs,” he said.
The EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell said the bloc cannot allow the EU’s military support to Ukraine to become hostage “to other decisions taken [have] nothing to do with the specific problem.”
Hungary previously linked EU aid to Ukraine to the disbursement of EU funds to Budapest, which were frozen over allegations of corruption and abuse of power.
