The EU promises a harsh response to Hungary’s veto on Ukrainian aid.

European Union leaders are poised to take a stricter stance on Hungary if Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blocks a €50B aid package for Ukraine at a summit on February 1. The EU member states are ready to approve Ukraine’s aid package at the Brussels summit on February 1, regardless of Hungary’s position.

Suppose Orbán continues to block the support package. In that case, it will be up to the remaining 26 EU countries to approve the package, and preparations for such a scenario are already underway, officials say.

A possible fallback option is for the rest of the EU member states to provide money to Ukraine outside the EU budget process. If Orbán decides to go this route, the EU could launch another round of punitive measures against Hungary and strip it of its voting rights as a member state.

However, this scenario could lead to a broader confrontation, with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico previously warning that he would defend Hungary against moves to strip it of its EU voting rights.