The heads of foreign affairs ministries of European Union countries are set to discuss further support for Ukraine at a scheduled meeting on March 16, particularly in light of the increasing arms deficit due to the parallel conflict in the Middle East. According to European diplomats, the main focus will be on the issue of providing a €90 billion loan to Ukraine, the final approval of which is currently being blocked by Hungary, despite an agreement reached at the EU leaders’ summit late last year.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Discussion Surrounding the Blockage of the Decision
In preparation for the meeting, diplomats emphasize that no alternative scenario for financing Ukraine is being considered. All parties are focused on implementing the approved plan to provide €90 billion through the European budget. One diplomatic representative highlighted the seriousness of the situation, where an agreement signed by all leaders could be disrupted by a single country.
“A European leader made a commitment at the leaders’ level, and a few weeks later says, ‘You know what, maybe not.’ I consider this the main problem. And the only thing we should focus on now is to ensure that this loan, this €90 billion, reaches Ukraine as soon as possible,” one of the interlocutors told Radio Liberty.
Pressure on Budapest and Prospects for Resolution
Most EU member states, according to another diplomat, are actively insisting on a swift decision regarding the loan to Ukraine. At the same time, there are currently no forecasts on whether Budapest’s veto will remain in place until the parliamentary elections in Hungary, during which, according to polls, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán may lose power.
Slovakia and Hungary are also blocking the twentieth package of sanctions against Russia and the allocation of multi-billion financial aid to Ukraine. Representatives of both countries have stated their readiness to maintain the veto until the supply of Russian raw materials through the Druzhba pipeline is restored.
Diplomats emphasize that this concerns an already reached agreement, which 24 EU member states have joined, while Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic have received certain exceptions. Refusing to comply with this decision is seen as a serious challenge to the effectiveness of the European Union’s functioning.