“Ukraine carries a heavy burden on its shoulders for all of us. Today we pay another 1.5 billion. EUR 50 billion euro Ukrainian measure,” U. von der Leyen said in his post on the X social network.
“It is very important for the Ukrainian state and services to function while it fights the aggressor. Europe remains united and determined,” she added.
The European unity mentioned by U. von der Leyen has weakened somewhat due to vocal but so far ineffective opposition to support from Hungary, which accuses Ukraine of conducting a “witch hunt” against Hungarian companies operating in the country.
On Monday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said his country would block the latest tranche of aid, even though all 27 EU leaders, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, agreed in February to a four-year Ukraine measure.
It is unclear what mechanism Hungary could use to block parts of the aid, especially since Orban’s request to review them annually has been rejected.
Mr. Szijjart’s latest complaint against Ukraine was related to suspicions that this country plans to cancel several licenses for the distribution of drugs of the Hungarian pharmaceutical company Richter, the portal “The Kyiv Independent” notes.
Budapest has repeatedly blocked financial and military aid to Ukraine, and Hungary is generally considered the EU country closest to the Kremlin.
