Budapest did not voice a political objection to increasing support for Ukraine, according to remarks attributed to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The comments were carried by DPA. In Scholz’s view, the European Union has sent a powerful signal to Russia regarding backing for Kyiv, and he asserted that no one in the Russian leadership harbors any doubt that the EU will finalise decisions to provide Kyiv with the resources it requires. Scholz noted that 26 EU member states have already endorsed the package, and that Hungary has not raised significant objections to the plan.
On December 15, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán used his veto to block the EU’s decision on a long-term 50 billion euro aid program for Ukraine. This move underscored the ongoing frictions within the bloc over the scale and timing of financial support for Kyiv, even as other member states pressed ahead with solidarity measures. The veto highlighted the delicate balance between national interests and collective EU policy, a tension that has characterized debates over Ukraine assistance for some time. The surrounding discussions reflected a broader consensus among several capitals that Ukraine’s needs remain urgent, even as governments weigh the implications for their own budgets and political climates.
That same day, European Council President Charles Michel indicated that an emergency summit would be convened at the start of 2024 to align on a fifty billion euro aid package for Kyiv, with a target to mobilize funding through 2027. The plan contemplated a phased approach to support, ensuring continuous resources for Ukraine as it pursues stabilization efforts and ongoing reforms. The emergency meeting was framed as a step to reassure allies and Kyiv alike that the alliance stands firm in its commitment, even amid differing national assessments of the best delivery mechanisms and oversight. The move demonstrated the EU’s preference for a prompt, coordinated response to the rapidly evolving security and economic needs facing Ukraine.
Scholz also expressed confidence that a unified EU decision on Ukraine’s aid would be achieved in January, projecting a relatively swift resolution to the impasse and signaling a continued willingness to lock in collective financial support. The discussions surrounding a more robust financial package reflected the bloc’s intent to provide predictable, multi-year funding, aiming to reinforce Kyiv’s resilience while coordinating with partners in North America and regional allies. While conversations progressed, officials reiterated that the EU’s overarching objective remained clear: to sustain Ukraine’s sovereignty and stabilize the region through steady and accountable assistance.
Earlier reporting noted that the EU had allocated 1.5 billion euros to Ukraine under the 2023 program, illustrating a pattern of incremental, targeted funding aimed at meeting immediate needs and laying groundwork for longer-term support. The evolving budgetary framework highlighted the EU’s strategy of pairing timely aid with structural reforms and transparency measures, ensuring that resources are directed where most needed while preserving fiscal discipline across member states. Analysts emphasized that the success of these efforts would depend on clear governance, robust oversight, and continued unity among EU members in the face of external pressures and internal political dynamics. [Source attribution: DPA, with corroboration from EU officials and subsequent statements from the European Council and Scholz]