Hungary blocks aid for Ukraine, asserting the ability to halt EU accession

Hungary held up a European Union (EU) deal on Friday on 50 billion euros (about $54.94 billion) for Ukraine from the EU budget and EU leaders decided to return to the discussion in January, according to Reuters, citing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

The EU's other 26 leaders agreed to come back to the debate at a fresh meeting early next year to try to thrash out an agreement on the desperately needed support for Kyiv.

"With 26 countries we agree. There is no agreement from Hungary at the moment, but I am very confident for next year," Rutte said.

Hungary is "defending its interests" by blocking EU aid to Ukraine, the Kremlin said Friday, noting that Brussels' move to bring Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia closer to European Union membership could ultimately destabilize the bloc, AFP reported, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

"This is absolutely a politicized decision -- the EU's desire to show support to these countries in this way. But certainly such new members can actually destabilize the EU," said Peskov.

"Hungary is a sovereign country. It has its own interests. And Hungary, in contrast to many European countries, firmly defends its interests, which impresses us," he said.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban warned on Wednesday that Ukraine was not ready for membership talks with the EU. Its swift accession to the bloc would have unforeseeable consequences, which did not serve the interests of either Hungary or the EU, he added.

EU membership "is not a title that can be donated, it has fixed conditions," Orban said during a debate in the Hungarian parliament organized around a resolution submitted by the ruling parties.

Highlighting concerns about the fallout from Ukraine's prospective EU membership, Orban said he was worried about the substantial financial burdens that would entail.

Orban said it was important to evaluate whether Ukraine's swift EU accession would genuinely serve the interests of Hungary or the EU.

The EU leaders ended talks on the financial package, which requires unanimity, in the early hours of Friday and said they would try again in January, voicing optimism a deal could be clinched then.

(With input from agencies)