Foreign ministers from European Union nations called on Hungary on Monday to stop blocking the bloc's billions of euros in military aid from Ukraine, as long-running tensions with Budapest escalate. .
Even before a meeting of the EU's 27 foreign ministers began, Lithuania's top diplomat Gabrielius Landsbergis accused Hungary of systematically blocking the EU's foreign policy positions.
“Almost all of our discussions and necessary solutions and decisions by the EU are being blocked by just one country,” he told journalists upon arriving at the meeting in Brussels.
“We have to start seeing this as a systematic approach to any efforts by the EU to have a meaningful diplomatic role.”
Estonia and Italy also expressed dissatisfaction with Budapest's blocking tactics ahead of the meeting. Diplomats say Hungary's position is often in line with Russia's interests, but Budapest insists it stands for peace.
Inside the room, diplomats said, the ministers expressed their frustration and called on their Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto to lift Budapest's blockades on packages amounting to around 6.5 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine to help fight the invasion. Russian.
“Tempers were quite high,” said a diplomat who had access to the discussions. Several officials said the negotiations were among the fiercest in recent years between EU foreign ministers.
EU foreign policy decisions require the unanimous support of all 27 Member States.
In comments on Facebook, Szijjarto said: “German, Irish and Polish colleagues created a scene, but that could not change our position, regardless of what pro-war politicians shout.”
Lithuania's Landsbergis said Hungary was blocking decisions on EU military aid to Ukraine, as well as the start of EU accession talks by Kiev, Georgia and Armenia.
“We looked into this and apparently around 41% of EU resolutions on Ukraine were blocked by Hungary,” he said.
“It was very, very far,” Landsbergis added. “We have to find a way, really, as a community, to get around this.”
Diplomats say Budapest is blocking a series of measures linked to the European Peace Mechanism, an EU-backed fund that has provided billions of euros in military aid to Ukraine.
“This is crucial now for Ukraine, and also for Europe, to use these EPF funds,” said Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told reporters: “We are against the blockade. We want to move forward.”
Source: CNN Brasil
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