More now on the EU’s stalled €50bn aid package for Ukraine (see post 3.59am).
European leaders – including Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orban, who vetoed the package – say they are hopeful they can agree a deal early next year.
“I am fairly confident we can get a deal early next year, we are thinking of late January,” said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, following the vote.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Orban said: “We will come back to the issue next year in the EUCO after proper preparation.”
Mr Orban, who has in the past boasted about his links to the Kremlin, was the only hold out in the aid deal last night.
He has argued that Ukraine should not get such a large amount of EU funding, since it is not part of the bloc.
Mr Orban has also argued over billions of Euros in EU funding meant for Budapest, which has been blocked over corruption and human rights concerns in Hungary.
