Germany and France did not support the European Union’s initiative to bypass Hungary’s veto on military aid to Ukraine, the Bloomberg news agency quoted sources as saying.
Hungary has blocked the financing of military aid to Ukraine worth over €6bn ($6.6bn) from the European Peace Facility. These funds were planned to be sent to European countries as compensation for the supply of weapons to the Ukrainian army.
According to Bloomberg’s sources, the European External Action Service suggested that the countries make voluntary contributions to the European Peace Fund, such a scheme would allow the funds to be channelled in the future on the basis of the consent of the contributors themselves, rather than unanimous support.
However, French and German authorities have expressed concerns that such action risks turning the fund into an instrument of foreign policy. Agency sources pointed out that other EU countries may also refuse to make voluntary contributions for the sake of helping Kiev.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the direct involvement of Western countries in the conflict in Ukraine changes its essence and that Russia will make decisions based on the threats posed to it.
