Frustrated EU ministers urge Hungary to stop blocking military aid to Ukraine

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

May 27, 2024 11:06 AM EDT Updated 30 min ago


BRUSSELS, May 27 (Reuters) - European Union foreign ministers urged Hungary on Monday to stop blocking measures to provide billions of euros in military aid to Ukraine, as long-simmering tension with Budapest boiled over.

Even before a meeting of the EU's 27 foreign ministers began, Lithuania's top diplomat Gabrielius Landsbergis accused Hungary of systematically blocking EU foreign policy positions. "Almost all of our discussions and needed solutions and decisions by (the) EU are being blocked by just one country," he told reporters as he arrived at the meeting in Brussels.

"We have to start seeing this as a systematic approach towards any efforts by (the) EU to have any meaningful role in foreign affairs." Estonia and Italy also expressed dissatisfaction before the meeting with Budapest's blocking tactics. Diplomats say Hungary's stance is often in line with Russia's interests but Budapest insists it is advocating for peace.

Inside the room, diplomats said, ministers vented their frustration and called on Hungarian colleague Peter Szijjarto to lift Budapest's blocks on measures that amount to some 6.5 billion euros ($7.06 billion) in military aid to Ukraine to help fight Russia's invasion. "Tempers ran quite high," said one diplomat briefed on the discussions. Multiple officials said the exchanges were among the most heated in years among EU foreign ministers. EU decisions on foreign policy require the unanimous backing of all 27 member states.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/lithuania-raps-hungary-over-hold-ups-eu-military-aid-ukraine-2024-05-27/

[William Seger]

1. Simple solution: Kick Hungary out of NATO, at least until Orban is dead

Protecting democracy is the entire reason for NATO's existence, and Orbán obviously has no respect for democratic government in Hungary, Ukraine, or anywhere else.

[mwooldri]

7. I'd rather freeze Hungary's membership of the EU.

Not kick them out, but do not let them participate in certain things. Or receive certain EU funds. I believe the EU has the mechanism to do this.

This I believe would be more consequencial than kicking Hungary out of NATO.

[William Seger]

8. That might be more consequential, but Orban simply doesn't belong in NATO

He isn't on our side and can't be trusted as a defense partner.

[paleotn]

2. Orban is a Putin puppet.

Time to just accept it and act accordingly.

[Irish_Dem]

3. As long as NATO gives Hungary so much power, they are not serious about Ukraine aid.

[Qutzupalotl]

4. Could EU countries act unilaterally

to bypass the EU and send aid directly?

I think if we kick Hungary out of NATO, Orbàn would become an overt rather than covert supporter of Putin.

[mwooldri]

6. They can and they do.

Spain just sent missiles.

[FakeNoose]

5. Orban is waiting for his payoff. I guess they haven't given it yet.

Yes he's an asshole, and this is the danger when former Iron Curtain countries are allowed to join the EU and NATO. There needs to be a "kill switch" - (and I don't mean to really kill him) - when certain troublesome leaders get to screw up the group's intentions.

There needs to be a way to put their EU and NATO membership on probation until the group decides whether this person is worth all the trouble they are causing. If the group decides NO then zapp, their membership is ended.

[sakabatou]

9. Does Hungary really think Russia would leave them alone if they took Ukraine?

So naive.