Ukraine Aid: Hungary, Slovakia & Poland Concerns – Tusk & EU Respond

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk sharply criticized Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Thursday, February 20, 2026, after Orbán blocked a proposed €90 billion aid package for Ukraine at a meeting of European Union leaders. Tusk also used the occasion to criticize Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of Poland’s Law and Justice party (PiS), for opposing the SAFE program, a Polish initiative aimed at bolstering national defense and the domestic arms industry.

“Orbán has just blocked European aid for Ukraine, Kaczyński is trying to block SAFE, money for defense and the Polish arms industry. Guess who’s happy…” Tusk posted on X, according to reports from Onet Wiadomości and MSN.

The blockage of EU aid to Ukraine comes as Kyiv continues to press for increased military and financial assistance to counter Russia’s ongoing invasion. The proposed aid package had been intended to provide crucial economic support and enable Ukraine to continue its defense efforts. The European Commission has yet to formally respond to Hungary’s decision, but is reportedly seeking clarification from Budapest.

Tusk’s criticism of Kaczyński centers on the PiS leader’s opposition to the SAFE program, which aims to modernize Poland’s military and stimulate the domestic defense sector. Kaczyński and PiS have previously voiced concerns about the program’s cost and potential impact on other areas of the national budget.

During the Munich Security Conference, Tusk met with Peter Magyar, the leader of the Hungarian opposition party TISZA, and a challenger to Orbán’s authority. Tusk remarked on the meeting, stating, “Some wanted to develop Warsaw like Budapest. Today, Budapest wants to be like Warsaw,” a reference to Kaczyński’s 2011 aspiration for Poland to emulate Orbán’s Hungary. The meeting signals a potential shift in political alliances within Central Europe, with Magyar seeking support from the Polish government, according to reporting from Fakt.pl.

The Polish government, under Tusk, appears to be positioning itself as a key advocate for increased support for Ukraine within the EU, contrasting sharply with Orbán’s stance. The situation underscores the growing divisions within the bloc over how to address the conflict in Ukraine and the broader geopolitical implications of the war.