Officials in Brussels have reportedly drawn up a secret plan to sabotage Hungary’s economy if Viktor Orbán decides this week to again block a €50bn support package for Ukraine.
The plan, reported by the Financial Times, reflects the fury mounting across European capitals at what one diplomat called the “policy of blackmail” being pursued by the Hungarian prime minister, who leads the bloc’s most pro-Russia state.
The FT said the strategy involved targeting Hungary’s economy, weakening its currency and reducing investor confidence.
Orbán blocked the €50bn in Ukraine funds in December, forcing an emergency leaders meeting to be scheduled on Thursday to revisit the matter.
They can do that and there have been discussions about it. They also think that allowing Orban to break the EU process is itself a victory for Orban and Putin because it’s a step toward fracturing EU unity.
Quite so. They don’t want to have to deal with blocs of smaller nations, they want to be the big dog in every trade deal individually.