The European Union is creating a legal loophole to bypass Hungary’s veto on support for Ukraine

The European Union has taken a major decision to bypass Hungary’s veto on arms purchases for Ukraine, freezing profits from Russian assets this year.

Josep Borrell, the EU’s chief diplomat, emphasized that the decision to use proceeds from frozen Russian assets should not be agreed with Hungary, which has long opposed military support for Ukraine because of its close ties to Russia.

The EU legal decision, which foreign ministers will discuss in the near future, will be key to ensuring the success of the G7 agreement and securing $50 billion in funding for Ukraine.  The freezing of Russian assets in the EU has already led to the accumulation of significant funds that can be used to support Ukraine in its defense needs.

The high representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, disclosed the details of the failed attempt to reach a compromise with Hungary on issues of support to Ukraine. He said Brussels had offered a deal similar to the one Nato struck with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, allowing Hungary to take part in support for Ukraine in exchange for a veto message against other allies that help Kyiv.

“We offered Hungary: your money will not be used to support Ukraine in any way. Not only for murder, but for anything. Take your money. Take your money out of the box. I don’t want to use your money“, Borrell said.

However, the Hungarian side rejected the proposal, which is confirmed by the refusal to comment on it. Borrell added that Hungary’s position is connected with its strong ties with Russia, which makes it difficult to adopt a consensus in the European Union on issues concerning Ukraine