【Wen/Observer Net Wang Kaiwen】 The European Union recently approved a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine to provide financial assistance. Three countries, including Hungary, refused to fund the EU's aid loans to Ukraine.

According to "Politico" Europe on December 20, Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán criticized Western countries' support actions for Ukraine on the 19th local time and questioned who triggered the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Orbán said that EU leaders justify their support by describing Ukraine as a "small country" that has been attacked.

"Of course, it is not that small. And it is not clear who attacked whom," Orbán said. But he added: "Regardless, it is a country that has suffered violence."

Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán, Hungarian Prime Minister's Official Website

In 2014, then-Ukrainian President Yanukovych was ousted in the "Color Revolution", and a pro-Western government took power in Ukraine. Since then, the Crimean region "joined Russia". In the Donbas region, which includes Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, civilian armed forces clashed with Ukrainian government troops. Since April 2014, the Ukrainian government has launched an "anti-terrorism" operation in eastern Ukraine, sending security forces to suppress pro-Russian protesters.

Afterward, the parties involved in the eastern Ukraine conflict reached ceasefire agreements in Minsk in September 2014 and February 2015, but small-scale fighting still occurred occasionally. Russia and the armed groups in eastern Ukraine have always accused the Ukrainian government of continuing attacks after the agreement was reached.

When the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in full scale in February 2022, Russian President Putin stated that Moscow's two key objectives were "to liberate Donbas from the Kiev regime" and "to de-militarize and de-nazify Ukraine".

At a press conference on December 19, Putin said: "We do not think we are responsible for the casualties because we did not start the war." Putin blamed Ukraine for the Russia-Ukraine conflict, accusing Zelensky's Ukrainian government of launching a "coup".

Orbán made these remarks after the European Council Summit. At this summit, the plan to use Russian assets to assist Ukraine was abandoned, and instead, the EU approved a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine for the 2026-2027 fiscal years to meet Ukraine's military and economic needs for the next two years.

Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia will not participate in guaranteeing this loan.

The UK Guardian reported that Orbán had previously agreed that as long as Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia were excluded from the debt guarantees, he would not block the EU from providing large interest-free loans to Ukraine.

According to the EU agreement text, "any action that mobilizes EU budget resources to guarantee this loan will not affect the financial obligations of the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia."

According to Hungarian media "24.hu", Orbán emphasized on the 19th that Ukraine is unable to repay this debt, and the burden of repayment will ultimately fall on Europeans, except for Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.

Orbán said that those who decided to provide loans to Ukraine would place the EU on a path that must defeat Russia, otherwise the EU would have to pay the money itself. Because only when Russia loses the war will Moscow pay compensation.

"Politico" Europe pointed out that the attitudes of these three countries have strengthened their alliance that is skeptical about aiding Ukraine, and once again undermined the unity of the EU. Previously, the EU's attempt to use frozen Russian assets to assist Ukraine failed due to opposition from many countries.

Orbán revealed before the EU summit on the 18th that Putin had told him that if the EU used Russian assets to assist Ukraine, Moscow would "use all tools of international law to respond strongly", but at the same time would also consider the position of each EU member state.

"So, Hungarians protected ourselves," Orbán said.

Currently, about 210 billion euros of Russian assets are frozen in the EU. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zarikova said on the 19th that regardless of how the EU tries to manipulate, freezing, seizing or using Russian assets has no legal basis. Any illegal actions related to Russian assets will be punished.

This article is exclusive to Observer Net and may not be reprinted without permission.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7586116855539778048/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.