Ukraine billions

Orban sells veto withdrawal in Brussels as a victory

The Hungarian Prime Minister at the special summit in Brussels(Bild: APA/AFP/Ludovic MARIN)

The agreement at the EU special summit on further billions in aid for Ukraine came about because Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban did not make good on his veto threat. However, Orban did not undergo a change of heart towards a pro-Ukrainian stance. Instead, he wants his compatriots to believe that he has once again "got his way".

If Hungary had continued to block the aid, the 26 other EU member states would have agreed to transfer the EU money earmarked for Hungary to Ukraine, the national conservative politician said on Friday.

"We fought it out!"
He had prevailed, Orban emphasized during his weekly propaganda appearance on state radio disguised as an interview. Shortly after the agreement was announced on Thursday, he had already explained his view of things: "We fought it out! The Hungarians are not giving money to the Ukrainians!" was the message on Orban's Facebook page.

Hungary would receive the blocked money from Brussels, would not supply weapons to Ukraine and would contribute to Ukraine's civilian financing. EU diplomats, on the other hand, stated that there had been no plans to use the money earmarked for Hungary for other purposes.

Orban isolated in the EU
The EU summit ended surprisingly quickly on Thursday because Orban had withdrawn his veto against the 50 billion euro aid. He was isolated among the other 26 EU governments. Hungary's prime minister gave up his opposition after French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, among others, met him behind closed doors for talks. What exactly was discussed was not leaked.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (from left to right) at the meeting on Thursday(Bild: APA/AFP/Ludovic MARIN)

Apart from this, he was again assured that the frozen 20 billion euros in EU subsidies for Hungary would be paid out. However, this will only happen if the country fulfills the EU Commission's reform requirements. The Hungarian government is accused of serious violations of the rule of law.

Hungary has no right of veto in the review
A review clause was also agreed for the Ukraine aid. However, the 26 other EU states ensured that Hungary no longer has a right of veto: This is because there must now be a unanimous vote by the EU-27 for the Ukraine aid to be reviewed at all. Orban had originally demanded that EU payments for Ukraine be decided on an annual basis.