Hungary is far from reaching an agreement with the European Union on aid to Ukraine, the head of the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Office said on Thursday, Reuters reports.

Gergely GulyasPhoto: ATTILA KISBENEDEK / AFP / Profimedia

The EU will try to reach an agreement on providing Ukraine with more financial aid during a meeting of the bloc’s leaders in early February, although Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán remains opposed.

Ursula von der Leyen, who heads the EU’s executive commission, said on Wednesday that she was confident of finding a solution among the bloc’s 27 members.

On Thursday, Hungary’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, said that Hungary is negotiating with the Commission, but is not sure that an agreement will be reached. Otherwise, he said, the other 26 EU members could reach a solution without Hungary.

Although EU leaders agreed to start accession talks with Ukraine last month, Hungary vetoed continued funding for Kyiv.

The Commission proposed to help by revising the EU’s general budget for 2024-2027, which would also provide more funding for migration and other priorities.

Providing funding to Ukraine under 26 bilateral agreements is an option that has been mooted, but is more complicated and expensive than going through the central treasury and could damage EU unity.

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