The media reported on the EU's plan to create a fund for military assistance to Ukraine bypassing Hungary

The European Union (EU) intends to create a voluntary fund for military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of €20-40 billion to circumvent Hungary's veto. This was announced by Euractiv on March 14.

"Given Hungary's continued refusal to participate in any scheme that would support Ukraine, both militarily and non-militarily, through EU channels, the proposal has been rewritten to include 'participating member states,'" the publication says.

According to the portal, EU leaders will have to agree on the allocation of €5 billion for the purchase of 2 million large-caliber artillery shells, as well as various ammunition, air defense systems, missiles, drones and fighter jets, as well as equipment maintenance.

It is noted that each country will contribute to the fund depending on its "economic weight." The European Union itself will consider as its contribution €1.9 billion of profits from frozen Russian assets.

Hungary, at a meeting in Brussels on Ukraine, which took place on December 14-15, 2024, blocked the allocation of €50 billion to Kiev. In the same month, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban suggested that the EU refrain from helping Ukraine over the next five years, noting that the €50 billion that the union is going to transfer to Kiev simply does not exist.