Hungarian leader blocks EU aid package for Ukraine

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrives for the EU summit in Brussel (Picture: Virginia Mayo/AP)

The European Union has failed to agree on a €50 billion aid package for Ukraine, even after deciding to open accession negotiations with the war-torn country.

The aid was vetoed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Thursday, delivering another tough blow to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after he failed this week to persuade US politicians to approve an additional $61 billion (€55.5 billion), mainly to buy weapons from the US.