Meloni discusses with Orbán unblocking Ukraine aid – media

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at informal talks with Hungary’s PM Viktor Orbán tried to persuade her Hungarian counterpart not to obstruct the EU support for Ukraine.

This is reported by Bloomberg, Ukrinform saw.

According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Meloni also pushed Orbán to change his attitude regarding Ukraine's aspirations for EU membership and to reset relations with Kyiv as a condition for joining the European Conservatives and Reformists party. Discussions have taken place at various levels, but no decision has yet been made, the interlocutors told Bloomberg on condition of anonymity.

It is noted that the negotiations emphasize Meloni’s foreign policy ambitions as she seeks to play the role of an influential mediator within the EU.

While the European Union will try to persuade Hungary to lift its veto on funding Ukraine at a summit next month, its leaders are also considering alternatives that could include a deal without Budapest's involvement. Hungary said during Wednesday's meeting that it wanted an annual review mechanism that would have to approve payments unanimously, according to another source familiar with the negotiations.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Viktor Orbán vetoed the allocation of EUR 50 billion from the EU budget for aid to Ukraine at a meeting of the European Council last month.

Later it became known that the EU was preparing a reserve mechanism to provide Ukraine with up to EUR 20 billion, which will allow bypassing Hungary's veto.

Photo: Denys Shmyhal, Telegram