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Slovakia and Hungary Opt Out of New EU Aid Package for Ukraine
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Slovakia and Hungary will not participate in a new funding mechanism for Ukraine, though they will not block other European Union member states from providing financial support to Kyiv.
The announcement was made by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico following an EU summit in Brussels, according to Babel on October 16.
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During the European Union summit in Brussels, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested EU leaders for an additional €70 billion ($76.3 billion) for 2027, with the majority intended for military procurement and the remainder allocated to support state operations.
Fico noted that Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic previously abstained from an earlier initiative that provided a €90 billion ($98.1 billion) loan to Ukraine.
He stated, “If they want to provide a loan to Ukraine, they can do so. But at least two countries will not participate in this financial mechanism,” referring to Slovakia and Hungary.
Despite declining participation in the financial mechanism, Slovakia plans to maintain cooperation through alternative avenues. A joint meeting between the Ukrainian and Slovak governments is scheduled for November 5, Babel reported.
Fico expressed hope that the Ukrainian side would confirm this date. The two sides plan to discuss schools for children, roads, energy grid integration, additional cross-border connections, and other similar projects.
Regarding diplomatic efforts, Fico observed that discussions among leaders at the summit did not center on peace negotiations, stating, “Today, the word ‘peace’ was not mentioned.” He added that he does not support either Ukraine or the Russian Federation in the war and advocates for peace talks, as reported by Babel.
He stated that he will not participate in mechanisms that he believes contribute to the continuation of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, while emphasizing that he will not make concessions in favor of Russia.
On October 16, 2026, Sweden allocated 500 million Swedish kronor ($50.4 million) in a support initiative aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s energy infrastructure ahead of the winter season.
Swedish Minister for European Union Affairs Jessika Roswall announced the funding, emphasizing that the assistance would focus on restoring power grids damaged by Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure as well as supporting medical care.
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