The battle to get £43bn in EU aid to Ukraine after Hungary’s Orban blocks it – and why it’s so important



Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orban has blocked a critical €50bn (£43bn) EU financial aid package for Ukraine, throwing into doubt Europe’s continuing support for Kyiv as it faces a tough winter battling Russia‘s forces.

A few hours previously, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky had celebrated the EU finally agreeing to open up membership talks, a deal which was achieved after Mr Orban agreed to leave the room when the rest of the 26 nations voted. However, Mr Orban told Hungarian state TV on Friday that he could still block the years-long process of Kyiv’s admittance to the bloc further along the line if he believes it undermines Budapest’s interests.