Hungary's decision to block the European Union's emergency loan of 90 billion euros to Ukraine has created significant challenges for EU leaders. In an effort to circumvent Hungary's veto, discussions are underway in the European Parliament to reconsider a previous proposal that involved the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Swedish politician Karin Karlsbro is a key figure behind this newly revived strategy, indicating a proactive approach to ensure financial aid reaches war-torn Ukraine.

The situation escalated earlier this week in Kyiv, where EU officials, including Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Their planned delivery of substantial financial aid coincided with the anniversary of Russia's invasion, but instead of presenting a clear timeline for the promised funds, they were forced to reiterate their solidarity and assurance of future support. This embarrassment highlights the urgency of the situation in Ukraine, which stands on the brink of bankruptcy and desperately needs financial assistance.

Before the Christmas holiday, EU member states had reached a preliminary agreement on a two-year aid package for Ukraine, shifting from the initial plan to utilize frozen Russian state assets to a collective EU loan in order to avoid vetoes from Hungary, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. However, despite these changes, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán remains a stumbling block, blocking the necessary funds and complicating the EU's efforts to provide timely assistance to Ukraine in these critical times.