Hungary halts $54 billion European Union deal for Ukraine

European Union leaders could not reach an agreement on a $54 billion aid package for Ukraine on Thursday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said.

EU leaders held a summit focused on Ukraine policy in Brussels starting Thursday.

“We still have some time, Ukraine is not out of money in the next few weeks,” Rutte said, according to Reuters.

He added that Hungary was the only EU member state not to go along with the deal, which will be considered again in January.

The announcement comes hours after the group officially opened EU ascension negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, a years-long process both nations have long sought.

That development overcame opposition from Hungary, whose leader, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has been openly skeptical of support for Ukraine. Orbán controversially met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in October.

Pro-Ukrainian leaders in the EU pressed the case for the billions in aid, as the war in Ukraine stalemates with winter setting in. 

“Ukraine will not stand without supports and ongoing support from both the European Union and the U.S.,” Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said. Barring that, he added, “well then, Putin will win.” 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was also in the U.S. on Tuesday to meet with President Biden and congressional leaders in an attempt to secure additional aid. Congress remains deadlocked over a border security bill, which Republicans say is a prerequisite for Ukraine aid.

Military analysts have warned that additional Western aid is needed in Ukraine, as the Russian invasion nears a second year. Biden warned this week that failing to secure additional aid for the country could embolden Putin.

“I don’t want you giving up hope,” Biden told Zelensky during his visit Tuesday. “We’re going to stay at your side.”

“Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine. We must, we must, we must prove him wrong,” Biden said. “Ukraine’s success and its ability to deter aggression in the future are vital to security for the world at large.”