German FM praises Hungary's shift on EU rule of law and Ukraine aid

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul welcomed Hungary's changed stance on European Union support for Ukraine during a visit to Budapest on Monday, saying the new government had cleared a major obstacle to a key financing package.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán, Wadephul said Budapest had ended its obstruction of a 90-billion-euro (about $106-billion) EU loan intended to help Kyiv in its fight against the Russian invasion.

"The new government has ended its obstruction of the 90 billion euro loan," he said, describing the move as being of crucial importance for Europe's future, security and freedom. He also credited Hungary with enabling EU sanctions against Russia, calling both steps decisive and saying neither would have been possible under a different election outcome.

Wadephul said he appreciated that the new Hungarian government was determined to address rule-of-law concerns and was seeking consensus with the European Commission. Much work remained, he added, because there was a lot of catching up to do, but he described the direction as promising and said Germany fully supported it.

Anita Orbán said Hungary's return to Europe could not be understood without improving relations with Germany.

The visit follows a landslide election victory in April by Hungary's centre-right Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, which defeated Viktor Orbán's nationalist-populist Fidesz. The new government has promised to repair ties with EU partners and restore Hungary's standing among Western democracies.

Under the previous administration, Hungary repeatedly blocked Ukraine's path toward EU membership, delayed or blocked EU sanctions on Russia, and held up the loan package. Viktor Orbán, who is not related to the foreign minister, was also seen as an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.