Hungary enrages the EU by blocking EUR 18 Billion in Ukraine Aid

The German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, has cautioned Budapest not to “play poker” with essential funding. On Thursday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized Hungary for delaying €18 billion in EU financial help to Ukraine, saying that Budapest should stop playing “play poker” with Brussels in a separate rule-of-law conflict as if they were at safe and secure online casinos. Baerbock’s objection was repeated by numerous EU diplomats who accused the administration of Viktor Orbán of extortion.

The European Commission recommended an €18 billion aid package on Wednesday to assist Ukraine to maintain its economy and public services running for the coming year, as well as to rebuild crucial infrastructure devastated by Russian missile strikes According to three officials, Hungary stated it could not endorse the assistance package during an EU ambassadors’ meeting on Wednesday. This is a potentially deadly stumbling block since the €18 billion support package to Ukraine for 2023 cannot be transferred without the support of all 27 EU members due to budget regulations requiring unanimity.

Wrecking Ball

Hungary’s wrecking ball has enraged Brussels, Berlin, and other EU cities. Four EU officials and diplomats said that Budapest’s blockage of Ukraine aid was a blackmail tactic to put pressure on the EU to release over €13 billion for Hungary, which could be imposed next month if the state does not address longstanding concerns about democratic backsliding.

On Thursday, Baerbock Entered the Fray

“Our financial, humanitarian support [to Ukraine] within the framework of winter aid is not a normal EU thing where people got used to playing poker and debate back and forth about financial resources,” the German foreign minister told correspondents in response to a question about whether Hungary was attempting to force the EU to make concessions in the rule-of-law dispute.