Hungary blocks military aid to Ukraine over listing of Hungarian bank
Hungary's government says it will continue to block the disbursement of a new tranche of European Union military support to Ukraine until Kyiv removes a Hungarian bank from a list of international sponsors of Russia’s war
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary will continue to block the disbursement of a new tranche of European Union military support to Ukraine until Kyiv removes a Hungarian bank from a list of international sponsors of Russia's war, Hungary's foreign minister said Wednesday.
Peter Szijjarto, speaking in Vienna after a meeting with his Austrian counterpart, called Ukraine's recent listing of OTP Bank “scandalous and unacceptable,” and said that Hungary wouldn't approve the release of 500 million euros ($543 million) from the EU's European Peace Facility until the bank is removed from the list.
“We cannot support the allocation of another half a billion euros from the European Peace Facility for arms transfers to Ukraine, and we will not give it the green light as long as OTP is on this particular list,” Szijjarto said.
Earlier this month, Ukraine's National Agency on Corruption Prevention classified OTP Bank as an international sponsor of the war over its continued presence in Russia, sparking a backlash from Hungarian officials.
