"EU leaders agreed to the $103bn loan in December, but Orban has clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and blocked its implementation last month, citing a dispute over a war-damaged pipeline. Orban, Russian President Vladimir Putin's key ally in an unfriendly bloc, has taken a stance that has angered other EU leaders, as Kyiv could run short of money in weeks if it does not receive new funding."
"His U-turn has called into question the credibility of the European Council, the EU's highest decision-making body. Several leaders arriving at the summit said Orban, who faces a difficult election next month, had to stick to the December deal and stop blocking the loan."
"He's using Ukraine as a weapon in his election campaign, and it's not good, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said, accusing Orban of betraying fellow EU leaders. Orban, a strident right-wing nationalist admired by United States President Donald Trump, is trailing in opinion polls ahead of elections on April 12."
EU leaders are pressuring Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to release a $103 billion aid package for Ukraine that was agreed upon in December. Orban has blocked the funding, citing disputes over a war-damaged pipeline and clashing with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. EU officials warn that Ukraine could face financial shortages within weeks without this support. Other EU leaders accuse Orban of using Ukraine as a political weapon in his upcoming April election campaign, where he trails in polls. His actions have undermined the credibility of the European Council and raised concerns about EU decision-making unity as Russia's war continues into its fifth year.
#eu-hungary-relations #ukraine-aid-funding #political-leverage #election-campaign #eu-decision-making
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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