EU Leaders Fail to Agree on €5B Ammunition Aid for Ukraine

EU leaders failed to reach an agreement on allocating €5 billion for artillery supplies to Ukraine during their recent summit, despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's urgent appeals for support amid ongoing conflict with Russia. The reluctance primarily stemmed from France and Italy, which sought more technical details before committing to specific financial contributions. While 26 member states expressed strong support for Ukraine, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's veto hindered consensus, prompting calls from Zelenskyy for stronger actions against such obstruction. The discussions also highlighted internal divisions within the EU, with southern countries expressing greater hesitation compared to their eastern counterparts. European Council President Antonio Costa suggested that a consensus may still be achieved before the next EU summit. The ongoing situation underscores challenges faced by the EU in maintaining a unified front for military assistance to Ukraine.