Hungarian PM blocks €50bn European Union financial aid package for Ukraine
Ukraine has seen €50bn of vital financial aid from the European Union blocked by Hungary.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has close ties to Russia, resisted the move, which required the unanimous agreement of all 27 EU leaders.
Mr Orban argued Ukraine should not receive the money as it is not part of the EU - despite an agreement having earlier been reached for Ukraine to begin membership talks.
"Summary of the nightshift: veto for the extra money to Ukraine," he posted on X following seven hours of talks.
The decision not to approve the aid came after EU leaders - minus Hungary - agreed to begin the membership process for Ukraine.
Mr Orban argued Ukraine was not ready for talks with the EU, citing alleged corruption and other issues.
Ahead of the meeting, the European Commission faced criticism for releasing €10bn of frozen funds - with the move interpreted by many as an incentive for the Hungarian leader not to veto the EU vote.
But his protests were bypassed as leaders got him to leave the room as they agreed to start the process to allow Ukraine entry into the EU.
The aid package would have seen around £43bn go to Ukraine.
Only last weekend Ukraine's first lady warned her countrymen would face "mortal danger" if the West backed down over its financial support amid the ongoing war with Russia.
Olena Zelenska told the BBC people in her country would be left to die if the world got tired of providing support.
However, European Union leaders assured Kyiv they would channel aid outside of the EU budget if Hungary continued its opposition.
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