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Hungary Sues EU Over Using Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine Aid
Above: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at the European Council headquarters in Brussels on June 29, 2023. Image copyright: Nicolas Economou/Contributor/NurPhoto/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Hungary's lawsuit represents a crucial defense of democratic principles within the EU framework. The European Peace Facility's decision to bypass Hungary's veto fundamentally undermines the equality of member states and violates the foundational treaties that govern EU decision-making. This precedent threatens the democratic functioning of the union by allowing majority decisions to override legitimate dissent.
Narrative B
The frozen Russian assets represent stolen funds that rightfully belong to supporting Ukraine's defense against unprovoked aggression. Viktor Orbán's Hungary consistently obstructs vital aid to a nation fighting for its survival, while maintaining warm relations with the aggressor state. This lawsuit only serves Moscow's interests by delaying crucial military support.
Cynical narrative
Seizing Russian assets under the guise of upholding international law rings hollow when many of the countries leading the effort have themselves violated international norms in past conflicts without facing similar financial reprisals. This selective application of legal and moral standards undermines the credibility of the global system they claim to defend. It's difficult to see the move as anything other than a politically convenient double standard.