EU leaders may exclude Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban from the bloc's voting process if he continues to obstruct the allocation of a €50 billion aid package to Ukraine, Politico reports.
As the publication notes, after several years of a soft approach to Orban, this time European diplomats are signaling that the "nuclear option" - excluding Budapest from the EU voting process - is no longer unthinkable if it jeopardizes the security of Ukraine, an EU candidate country.
Five European officials and diplomats said that other countries in the bloc are ready to take steps against Budapest, which would be a historic move for leaders who rely on cohesion and unanimity.
"If Orban really blocks the deal again (on the budget and €50 billion for Ukraine) at the February summit, using Article 7 to deprive Hungary of its voting rights could be a real option," said one EU diplomat.
As we reported earlier, the Latvian president is confident that the upcoming summit will approve €50 billion for Ukraine: "This will be done with or without Hungary."
