The new government of Slovakia, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, has ended military aid for Ukraine. The government said it was still ready to provide humanitarian and other aid.
“Our aid to Ukraine is important and makes sense because it is above all in our interest, our interest in the stability and peace in the region,” said Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová, a staunch supporter of Ukraine.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/ukraine-ap-central-european-prague-russia-b2451902.html
Before the meeting, Lithuania’s minister of foreign affairs, Gabrielius Landsbergis, accused Hungary of systematically obstructing EU foreign policy of solidarity with Kyiv.
“The best way to help Ukraine is to help Ukraine win, but instead, we are shielding Russia’s occupation. If we cannot get over our fear of success, we will only invite more failure,” Minister Landsbergis posted on X. This statement reflects the frustration of many EU member states with Hungary’s opposition to the EU’s military aid to Ukraine, and it underscores the urgency of the situation.
“Almost all of our discussions and needed solutions and decisions by (the) EU are being blocked by just one country,” he told reporters as he arrived at the meeting in Brussels.
https://www.europeaninterest.eu/hungary-and-slovakia-block-eu-military-aid-to-ukraine/
Italy, along with a chorus of other EU member states, expressed strong dissatisfaction with Budapest’s behaviour before the meeting. Ministers of Germany, Ireland, and Poland, among others, urged Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto to lift Budapest’s blocks on measures to help Ukraine with billions of euros in military aid, underscoring the widespread concern over Hungary’s stance.
“Hungary is blocking almost half of all EU decisions regarding Ukraine, above all the 8th refund package for aid delivered to 🇺🇦by member states, to their, and Poland’s utmost irritation,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland posted on X.
https://www.europeaninterest.eu/hungary-and-slovakia-block-eu-military-aid-to-ukraine/
‼️Huge changes in Europe.
Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and now the Czech Republic (newly elected PM) push against EU’s support for the conflict in Ukraine and agree to stop all military aid to Kiev. pic.twitter.com/l9mS1GjhCE
— The Other Side Media (@TheOtherSideRu) October 4, 2025
European leaders decided in London today that they want to go on with the war instead of opting for peace. They decided that Ukraine must continue the war.
This is bad, dangerous and mistaken. Hungary remains on the side of peace. Ceterum censeo.
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) March 2, 2025
According to Politico’s unnamed “diplomats behind the scenes,” who were privy to the preliminary discussion among EU ambassadors preparing the draft, several member states—including France—are just as “happy” to see the military aid scrapped or delayed as Hungary and Slovakia are. The two sovereigntist powers are given the role of scapegoats again, as on so many previous occasions, including for blocking the blanket ban on Russian fossil fuels and other harsh sanctions.
Some member states have reportedly suggested using “more creative” ways to fill the giant hole left behind by the halted U.S. military supplies, such as through the upcoming “ReArm Europe” scheme unveiled by EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday, March 4th. The giant defense plan includes a €150 billion joint loan for arms procurement, and diplomats suggested that it could contain a clause requiring countries to invest or transfer 20% of each purchase to Ukraine.
While the two Central European countries are on board with jointly boosting Europe’s defense expenditure, Hungary and Slovakia have been quite open about their opposition to continued military aid to Ukraine that would only prolong the war with further unnecessary bloodshed instead of pushing for an immediate ceasefire.
