During this past week, the European Union has officially struck a deal to provide $54 billion in aid to Ukraine. The agreement was finally passed when the long-opposed Hungary dropped its disapproval. This money will help support Ukraine’s economy to keep running in 2024 to uphold needed services. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola praised the agreement in a press conference directly after the agreement was reached. The vote was approved by the EU’s 27 member nations.

In a statement commenced by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, and European Council President Charles Michel in an EU summit meeting in Brussels, Metsola stated, “Ukraine is our priority and this agreement will give the credibility, legitimacy and the predictability that is expected from us. Because Ukraine’s security is Europe’s security.” The leaders arrived in Brussels ready to take on Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán who had vetoed funding for Ukraine in a similar EU budget summit in December. Kallas voiced her frustration in an impasse with Hungary beforehand: “Viktor definitely wants to be the center of attention every time we are here, but it shouldn’t be like this. I don’t want to use the word blackmail, but I don’t know another better word.” Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk similarly said, “Europe doesn’t have Ukraine fatigue, it has Viktor Orbán fatigue. I can’t understand, I can’t accept this very strange and very egoistic game of Viktor Orbán.” It has been said that Orbán is critical of Western funding of Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, saying that it prolongs the war while also claiming that Russia does not pose a security threat to Europe. But at last the deal was set and Europe was pleased.

Hungary has long been an opposition member in the EU. It has refused to let Sweden into NATO and for a long time did not allow Finland to become a member, but ultimately led up to Finland entering the alliance in 2023. Since the invasion of Ukraine, Hungary has maintained close ties with Russia, possibly because of the exchange of crude oil and gas that follows in from Russia. Orbán has long been a troubling leader and the other EU leaders have stood their ground.

With the joint power of the EU and the United States it is prominent that Hungary remains in line for the support of Ukraine. To help Hungary recognize what Russia is doing is unacceptable and immoral on an international scale. The continuous flow of money and support to Ukraine will help them fight for their economy during this war that is crucial for peace and security in Europe and the rest of the world.