Decision comes as Hungary blocks aid to Ukraine
EU finance ministers to discuss Commission proposal on Dec. 8
EU bargains with Hungary ahead of key summit next month

BRUSSELS, Nov 23 Reuters The European Union executive on Thursday approved 900 million euros 1 billion in advance payments to Hungary under its hitherto frozen share of recovery funds, as the bloc seeks to overcome Budapest39;s veto of aid to Ukraine.

The EU39;s Brusselsbased executive, the European Commission, locked Hungary out of the bloc39;s postpandemic economic stimulus due to concerns over corruption and backpedalling on democratic checks and balances under veteran Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

In turn, Hungary has blocked EU decisions otherwise expected next month to grant Ukraine 50 billion euros in economic aid through 2027 and start accession talks with Kyiv. Budapest also stalled a plan to extend 20 billion euros in EU military aid to Kyiv, and is against sanctions over Russia for waging the war.

EU support is crucial to Ukraine, which has been struggling to push back a fullscale Russian invasion since February 2022.

Orban, who touts his ties with Moscow, says Hungary is no more corrupt than other EU countries.

Budapest has rolled out a billboard campaign vilifying the European Commission, and Orban39;s Fidesz party is pushing a bill on protecting national sovereignty from foreign meddling both moves raising the stakes in Hungary39;s clashes with the EU.

A Budapest currency trader put…