The EU’s planned 50 billion euro long-term budget support package for Ukraine faced a veto from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. He announced his stance after the opening day of the Brussels summit, as reported by TASS, signaling that Budapest would revisit the issue at a future EU gathering.
Orban shared on social media that after necessary groundwork, Hungary would reengage with the topic during the EU summit held next year, signaling a wait-and-see approach rather than a final decision.
Among the leaders weighing the aid package, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte voiced optimism that EU members could reach a consensus on Ukraine support in the coming year. He noted that discussions had been thorough and that it was prudent to grant more time for judgment, expressing belief that the outcome would be favorable next year.
At stake is a package designed to funnel 50 billion euros to Ukraine by the end of 2027. The European Commission outlined a split of the funds: 33 billion in loans and 17 billion in grants. The goal is to bolster Kyiv’s budget to cover ongoing expenses, including civil service salaries, military pay, pensions, and compensation to the families of service members. If adopted, Kyiv would receive roughly 1.03 billion euros per month, a figure that compares with about 1.5 billion euros monthly in 2023 to meet EU-wide budget needs.
The debate centers on EU budgeting rules, which are structured on seven-year cycles. The funds available in the current budget framework—meant to support Ukraine through 2021–2027—have already been utilized for 2022 and 2023. To finance the extra 50 billion for the remaining years, the Commission urged EU members to contribute more from their national budgets. That reliance on additional national funds, drawn from taxpayers, has caused hesitation among capitals across Europe, as noted by TASS, highlighting concerns about domestic fiscal margins and political appetite for further spending.
In parallel developments, earlier reporting suggested Kyiv might not receive the promised F-16 aircraft, a point underscoring the persistent friction and uncertainty surrounding military aid and security guarantees for Ukraine, even as the broader aid framework moves through its formal approval process.
Additionally, the conversation around U.S. support has remained a live topic, with discussions about the scope and pace of arms shipments influencing European calculations and the overall strategy for sustaining Ukrainian defense capabilities in the medium term, a backdrop to the EU’s budgeting deliberations this week.
Overall, negotiators are balancing the imperative of steady support for Ukraine with the realities of diverse national budgets and political calendars. As the EU weighs a sizable financial package and its distribution across loans and grants, the path forward will depend on continued dialogue among member states, alignment of fiscal expectations, and the ability to translate political consensus into a workable funding plan for the years ahead, with Kyiv needing predictable funding to maintain government functions and defense readiness that underpin regional stability and security.”