The EU is talking about unlocking 6.6 billion euros for Ukraine after the change of government in Hungary

The European Union may be close to releasing €6.6 billion in military aid to Ukraine from the European Peace Facility (EPF) after a change of government in Hungary, European foreign policy chief Kaia Kallas said ahead of an informal meeting of EU defense ministers in Nicosia.

The EU expects progress after the change of government in Hungary

According to Kallas, the arrival of a new Hungarian minister has created an opportunity to advance negotiations on unblocking funding that Budapest has effectively blocked for over two years.

“We now have a new Hungarian minister. And this also means that we are moving forward with the release of €6.6 billion from the European Peace Facility,” the EU foreign policy chief said.

At the same time, she stressed that there is no final deadline for a decision, as member states still have to agree on a new compromise mechanism.

EU seeks new model of military support for Ukraine

Kallas explained that initially the European Peace Fund was created to compensate EU countries for the costs of weapons they transferred to Ukraine.

However, a new approach is now being discussed in Brussels:

some of the funds will be directed to compensation for member states;
some directly to new military assistance to Ukraine.

According to the diplomat, the European Commission is already working on a compromise model that will take into account the positions of all EU countries.

Priority — Ukrainian air defense

Kaia Kallas emphasized that the key issue for Europe remains Ukraine’s defense capability, especially the air defense system.

“They need to defend themselves, and their air defense is the most important,” she emphasized.

Hungary is gradually softening its position

Statements about the possible unblocking of funding came against the backdrop of a certain softening of Budapest’s position on Ukraine.

Hungary also previously stated its readiness not to block the first stage of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU, but put forward a condition regarding guarantees of the rights of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia.

It is the position of Viktor Orban’s government that has remained the main reason for blocking new tranches of aid to Ukraine through the European Peace Facility mechanism in recent years.