EU court dismisses Hungary's challenge to Russian asset proceeds for Ukraine

The government of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán filed the case last year after the EU decided to channel interest generated by frozen Russian assets to Ukraine through the European Peace Facility, the bloc's main mechanism for financing military assistance.

Hungary had opposed the move but was excluded from the vote because it was not considered a contributing member state. Orbán's government argued that bypassing its veto violated EU law and unfairly deprived Hungary of its voting rights.

The court did not rule on whether Hungary's objections were valid. Instead, it dismissed the case because it said it lacked jurisdiction to review the decision.

The judges found that the use of the Russian asset proceeds was a strategic decision under the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, an area that is largely shielded from judicial review.

The ruling leaves the EU decision to channel the proceeds to Ukraine in place.

Hungary filed the lawsuit under Orbán, whose government repeatedly opposed or blocked EU military assistance to Ukraine. The country's foreign policy has shifted since Péter Magyar's government took office following parliamentary elections in April.