European Union governments agree to use €1.4 billion (1, 50 billion dollars) profits from Russian assets frozen for weapons and other aid to Ukraine, reports "Reuters".
EU governments had already decided in May to use the profits from assets frozen in the EU to help Ukraine, with 90% of the funds earmarked for military aid. But Hungary is holding back on approving the necessary legal measures, diplomats say.
Hungary maintains warmer relations with Moscow than any other EU country. It does not give weapons to Ukraine, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has openly criticized other EU and NATO members, saying they are fueling the war.
At a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, top diplomat Josep Borrell said the usual unanimity on foreign policy decisions was not necessary as Hungary had reneged on previous decisions supporting the scheme.
"Since Hungary is not involved in the decision, there is no need for them ... to be involved in the implementation," Borrell told reporters as he arrived for the meeting.
EU governments have backed the plan and ministers at the Luxembourg meeting have also backed it, diplomats said. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó didn't say much as Borrell laid out the plan, they said.
"This is a clear red line. There has never been a precedent for such a shameless violation of common European rules until now," wrote Peter Szijjártó on Facebook.
Hungary continues to block the payment of 6.6 billion euros in partial compensation for arms purchased for Ukraine.
"As you know, we still have six court decisions that cannot be implemented due to the refusal of one country from the EU. We need to avoid this in terms of Russian income. We have a solution and we presented it today," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters.