EU vows Ukraine to get aid despite veto by Hungary’s Orban
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hungarys-orban-blocks-aid-ukraine-says-he-can-still-halt-eu-accession-2023-12-15/
BRUSSELS, Dec 15 (Reuters) - European Union leaders expressed confidence on Friday that they would clear a large package of aid for Ukraine early in 2024, despite a veto by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban...
...German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron were among those expressing optimism on getting the aid to Kyiv, which is part of a broader multi-year EU budget plan.
“We have other ways of helping Ukraine, but we have not given up on the goal of finding a solution here,” said Scholz, who diplomats and officials said played a big role in getting Orban to leave the room to clear the way for a decision on starting accession talks.
Macron said the EU was “not blocked” from providing aid next year, adding he felt Orban had an incentive to reach a deal.
Orban ... told state radio he had blocked the aid to ensure Budapest gets EU money that is frozen over concerns about the rule of law in Hungary.
"It is a great opportunity for Hungary to make it clear that it must get what it is entitled to," he said.