Hungary's Orbán Signals Readiness to Lift Opposition to Ukraine Funding

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico Supports Orbán's Proposal for Yearly Reassessment of Aid

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who blocked a €50 billion four-year funding package to Ukraine in December, is now signaling readiness to lift his opposition as negotiations continue on concessions that would make it easier for him to accept.
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has voiced support for Orbán's position and his proposal to separate the funding into four installments that could be reassessed, and potentially blocked, each year.
EU leaders are expected to meet again on February 1 to attempt a deal on the financial package, but Orbán’s veto power remains a factor.
Orbán's critics in the EU believe that he has used his veto power over assistance to Ukraine as leverage to gain access to frozen funds, withheld due to concerns over Hungary's flouting of democratic principles.
A group of 120 EU lawmakers signed a petition urging that Hungary be stripped of its voting rights in the bloc’s decision making, arguing Orbán had repeatedly violated EU values by subverting democratic institutions since taking office in 2010.