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Hungary to stand in way of long-term financing for Ukraine from EU budget — Orban

Viktor Orban added that the European Union will revisit the issue of amendments to its budget and financial aid to Ukraine "at some point in February"

BUDAPEST, December 15. /TASS/. Hungary will withhold its support for the provision of financial aid to Ukraine from out of the European Union budget, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told Kossuth Radio.

He confirmed that at the EU summit in Brussels he blocked a budget amendment earmarking 50 bln euros for Ukraine in 2024-2027. "The money of Hungarians will not be given to Ukraine," the head of state said. He explained that, in his opinion, the European Union’s budget currently has "no money" for providing long-term financial aid to Ukraine.

"I had to veto these 50 bln [euros] for Ukraine and the relevant amendment to the budget. They (senior EU officials - TASS) had no choice but to recognize this," Orban said.

He added that the European Union will revisit the issue of amendments to its budget and financial aid to Ukraine "at some point in February," but if it makes the wrong decision, Hungary will once again block it. According to the head of government, he had "made it clear that Hungarians are not going to pay for the financial consequences of this decision." "If necessary, Hungary will pull the handbrake. There is no doubt about this," the prime minister said.

Orban added that if other EU countries "want to head in the wrong direction, then the most Hungary can do is caution them against it."