Hungary has refused to approve a new military aid package worth $21 billion (20 billion euros) for Ukraine, creating a major challenge for European leaders trying to support Kyiv. The European Union (EU) had already agreed to provide $63.1 billion (60 billion euros) in military assistance for Ukraine in 2025, and those funds are still secure. However, the new package faced strong opposition from Hungary, which has been vocal about not wanting to send additional military help to Ukraine.
Hungary’s leader has been at the forefront of efforts to stop the new aid. Another country, Slovakia, has also said it will not provide any more financial or military assistance to Ukraine. This resistance has complicated Europe’s ability to move forward with its support plans.
The EU’s top officials, including its president, had been working on a new plan to boost defense spending across Europe. However, the latest version of the European Council’s decisions has already removed the $21 billion (20 billion euro) proposal. This means that the package will not be moving forward for now. Hungary has taken full responsibility for blocking it, saying that while it supports making Europe stronger in general, it does not want to send more military resources to Ukraine.
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European Leaders Struggle to Find Agreement
The dispute over the aid package is not just about money—it is also about different views on how to handle the war. Some European leaders believe in a “peace through strength” strategy, which means helping Ukraine with military aid to make it stronger against its enemy. Others, including Hungary, have a different approach and are not convinced that sending more military support is the right solution.
Attempts to convince Hungary to change its stance have not been successful. One of the EU’s top leaders admitted that there are different opinions on how to achieve peace. However, he also pointed out that most European countries agree that Europe needs to be better prepared to handle security threats.
While Hungary and Slovakia are openly opposing the aid, some diplomats say that other European countries, including France, might not be in a hurry to push the package forward either. This suggests that while Hungary is leading the opposition, there may be more behind-the-scenes hesitation from other countries as well.
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Hungary’s Wider Demands and Ties to Russia
Hungary’s decision to block the aid package comes at a time when it is also making demands related to the EU’s sanctions on Russia. Hungary had asked for eight individuals to be removed from the EU’s sanctions list, which targets people connected to Russia. Additionally, Hungary wants new guarantees about Ukraine’s gas transit system before it agrees to extend the EU’s existing sanctions on Russia.
The issue is also linked to changes in U.S. politics. Recently, a former U.S. leader and a U.S. senator expressed opposition to Ukraine’s president in a White House meeting. This shift in U.S. policy could be influencing Hungary’s decision as well.
For now, European leaders are struggling to find a solution. The EU has already provided a large amount of military aid to Ukraine, but this new package remains blocked. As Hungary and Slovakia hold their ground, discussions within the EU continue. Some leaders are pushing for stronger military support for Ukraine, while others, like Hungary, insist that they will not approve more aid
This disagreement highlights the ongoing divisions within Europe about how to handle the war and what steps should be taken next. While Hungary has made its position clear, the debate over Europe’s military role in Ukraine is far from over.
