EU does not confirm Hungary has unblocked €6.6 billion for weapons supplied to Ukraine

The European Commission cannot confirm reports that Hungary unblocked €6.6 billion from the European Peace Facility intended for military support to Ukraine.

"I cannot confirm this for the moment, because when it comes to the European Peace Facility we have many discussions. These are currently ongoing. And the exact use of the blocked funds is still being discussed with the member states," Anitta Hipper, lead spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said.

Hipper stressed that "despite the blockage as such, member states have continued to deliver the military support to Ukraine, and the High Representative [for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas] has been in regular touch with the member states to encourage them to increase the ammunition and the support towards Ukraine".

"Discussions are ongoing, so this is diplomatic talk, no further comment on this at this stage," she added.

Earlier, Politico reported that Hungary's new government had lifted its veto on partially reimbursing EU member states for weapons supplied to Ukraine through the European Peace Facility.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called for the European Peace Facility to be used to finance the PURL programme and procure additional Patriot systems and interceptors for Ukraine. [The Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) programme allows NATO allies to finance purchases of US-made weapons for Ukraine – ed.]

EU member states have submitted requests to the European Commission for reimbursement of weapons supplied to Ukraine, totalling €43 billion, which are to be partially compensated through the European Peace Facility.

The EU is currently replenishing the European Peace Facility using revenues from frozen Russian assets. The government of Hungary's then prime minister Viktor Orbán has filed a lawsuit with the Court of Justice of the EU against the fund and the Council of the EU over this decision.