Hungary to block EU military support for Ukraine unless OTP taken off war sponsors list

"We can't give it a green light as long as OTP remains blacklisted" said Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, adding: "The same goes for sanctions as well." Hungary did not approve the disbursement of the next tranche of military support for Ukraine provided under the EU's European Peace Facility (EPF), demanding guarantees that other regions, such as the Balkans or North Africa, would also get money.

Hungary will block the next tranche of European Union military support for Ukraine and any new sanctions package against Russia unless Kyiv removes Hungarian bank OTP from its list of war-sponsors, its foreign minister said on Wednesday. "We can't give it a green light as long as OTP remains blacklisted" said Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, adding: "The same goes for sanctions as well."

Hungary did not approve the disbursement of the next tranche of military support for Ukraine provided under the EU's European Peace Facility (EPF), demanding guarantees that other regions, such as the Balkans or North Africa, would also get money. The EPF, created in 2021, is an off-budget instrument aimed at enhancing the EU's ability to prevent conflicts, build peace and strengthen international security.

The EU has provided a total of about 3.6 billion euros ($4 billion) for military support for Ukraine so far under it. Hungary, which is member of the EU and also NATO, has refused to provide any military equipment to its neighbour Ukraine, and has also repeatedly criticised EU sanctions against Russia, but eventually supported all the agreed measures so far. ($1 = 0.9084 euros)