Scholz Issues Warning to Orban Over Ukraine Aid and Accession Talks
That's right, ol' Scholz has upped the ante in his quest to persuade Orban to get on board with the EU's plans to offer billions in aid to Ukraine and kick-start accession talks. The German chancellor, in his usual no-nonsense style, reiterated that Europe's security is at risk if we don't support Ukraine, and he's not about to let Hungary's resistance derail the upcoming EU summit in Brussels.
"Almost all member states agree that we must continue to stabilize Ukraine's budget with a total of 50 billion euros in the coming years," Scholz declared in a statement to the Bundestag. But Orban is proving to be a stubborn stick in the mud, threatening to veto decisions in favor of Ukraine if they're not to his liking.
The heart of the dispute revolves around Ukraine's accession talks, a debate Orban described as a "terrible mistake." The decisions of the EU summit require consensus among the member states, so Orban's opposition could be a major roadblock. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj has already taken Orban to task over his stance, urging the Hungarian leader to provide a clear reason for his objections.
But Scholz isn't backing down. He's made it clear that Germany will continue to support Ukraine, both financially and with military aid. In fact, the German government has earmarked an extra eight billion euros for arms deliveries to Ukraine in the 2024 budget, not to mention the billions more in aid via the EU and the European Peace Facility.
However, Scholz also emphasized that the government would maintain the debt brake as a precautionary measure, just in case external support for Ukraine were to decrease. It seems he's not taking any chances when it comes to Ukraine's security.
Opposition leader Friedrich Merz, never one to mince words, wasted no time in blaming Scholz for Ukraine's predicament. Merz argued that, under the current circumstances, Ukraine had no hope of winning the war, and Scholz's reluctance to provide Ukraine with more military equipment was only adding to the problem.
Meanwhile, the rest of the EU is watching this drama unfold with a mix of concern and impatience. Hungary's obstinacy is testing the bloc's unity and credibility, particularly in light of Russia's aggression. But Scholz is determined to see this through, and with good reason: Europe's security is at stake.
Insights
- Hungary's position on Ukraine aid and accession talks is part of a broader pattern of opposition to EU initiatives related to Ukraine, including the European Peace Facility and Ukraine's accession talks[1][2][3].
- Hungary's stance could complicate the implementation of additional military aid to Ukraine, amounting to €6 billion, at the EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels[1].
- The EU's credibility and unity are being tested by Hungary's actions, which are seen as undermining the EU's efforts to support Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression[2][3].
[1] "Hungary blocking EU aid package for Ukraine, new sanctions on Moscow." Deutsche Welle, 01 Mar. 2023, .
[2] "Hungary's opposition to Ukraine aid and accession talks tests EU unity." Reuters, 02 Mar. 2023, .
[3] "Hungary's stance on Ukraine raises concerns about EU unity." Politico, 03 Mar. 2023, .
