Lithuania says Hungary blocks 41% of all decisions on Ukraine

According to Lithuanian Foreign Ministry estimates, more than 40 per cent of the European Union's decisions on Ukraine have been or continue to be blocked by Hungary.

This was announced by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on 27 May, before the start of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Deutsche Welle reports.

"Transparency is needed regarding Hungary's current position," he said, noting that it is wrong to view Budapest's numerous vetoes as isolated episodes. – "We have studied the issue and, all things considered, about 41 per cent of EU decisions on Ukraine have been blocked by Hungary.

He cited several examples: the eighth tranche of military aid to Ukraine from the European Peace Facility (EPF), new multibillion-dollar revenues for Kyiv from this fund, and Ukraine's EU accession negotiations, which are being held hostage by Hungary.

"And I could go on and on: a joint statement on Georgia, assistance from the EFF to Armenia – almost all of our necessary decisions are being blocked by one country," Landsbergis said.

"I think it has gone very, very far: if you look at it systematically, it is a very long track record, it is a history of hindering Europe's ability to act, and we need to talk about it. We have to find a way as a community to get past this, because if we don't, we will just get stuck, we will be ineffective and we will not be able to move forward even in the places that are vital for us," the minister told reporters.

"Every time we come here, we have to persuade Hungary not to block very important initiatives," said Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tähna.

He stressed that this time, too, it will be necessary to convince the Hungarian side to lift the blockade of military aid to Ukraine.

He also talked about using the profits from frozen Russian assets to help the Ukrainian Armed Forces – a measure that has already been agreed upon in principle at the level of EU leaders.

The Belgian Foreign Minister Hajia Lahbib, who holds the presidency of the EU Council, also spoke out strongly: "We cannot simply accept the fact that one country, which also signed up to this amount at a European Council meeting a few months ago, is now blocking this crucial aid for Ukraine."

Background. As reported, Hungary has blocked the transfer of military aid to Ukraine from the proceeds of blocked Russian assets. However, Budapest promises not to veto the decision and will "limit itself to delaying" the vote.