EU in stalemate crisis after Ursula Von der Leyen's budget plans usurped by Hungary
von der leyen
The EU has found itself in a stalemate with Hungary, after the nation blocked plans to send further financial aid to Ukraine.
Viktor Orban vetoed the EU's plans to send £43 billion (€50 billion) in aid to Kyiv.
The aid negotiations will resume next year, EU leaders said.
Von der Leyen appears to be backed into a corner by Hungary, who are demanding around €30 billion in EU funding in exchange for the nation lifting its veto on support for Ukraine.
But Orban's political director, Balázs Orbán, said they would only lift their veto if Brussels handed over all the money it had frozen - amounting to 30 billion.
EU leaders are promising Ukraine will get the aid package, even if it means setting up a dedicated fund without Hungary.
But speaking to Playbook, officials insisted their preferred plan is to send the aid as part of the EU budget - which would require Hungary lifting its veto.
Commenting on Mr Orban's opposition to the aid, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said: "We still have some time, Ukraine is not out of money in the next few weeks."
He added: "We agreed with the 26 countries. Viktor Orban, Hungary, were not yet able to do that.
"I am fairly confident we can get a deal early next year. We are thinking of late January."
But Orban said: "Summary of the nightshift: veto for the extra money to Ukraine".
Orban has been in a battle with the EU in recent months, repeatedly blocking EU plans to continue providing financial support to Ukraine.
He had previously threatened to derail the EU's plan to grant Ukraine membership, saying Hungary would not take a decision on the nation's accession to the bloc until EU leaders held a "strategic discussion" on the issue.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
EU leaders are promising Ukraine will get the aid package, even if it means setting up a dedicated fund without Hungary
PA
In comments made ahead of the EU summit, Orban warned Von der Leyen that the bloc is "about to make a terrible mistake".
Speaking about the union's plans to begin membership talks with Ukraine - and provide 50 billion euros in financial aid - Orban said: "The European Union is about to make a terrible mistake, and they must be stopped.
"This is a mistake; we are destroying the European Union."