Baerbock's protest echoed appeals from several EU diplomats who accused Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government of blackmail.The European Commission on Wednesday proposed an €18 billion support package to help Ukraine keep its economy and public services afloat throughout the coming year and to restore critical infrastructure destroyed by Russian missile and kamikaze drone strikes.Four EU officials and diplomats told POLITICO that they see Budapest's blockage of the Ukraine aid as a blackmail tactic to create pressure to release over €13 billion of EU funds for Hungary, which could be suspended next month if the country does not sufficiently address longstanding concerns over democratic backsliding."We are seeing that at least 30 percent, if not 40 percent, of the civilian infrastructure [in Ukraine] has been destroyed," she added, arguing the EU aid package must be approved quickly because "winter is just around the corner."On Tuesday, Hungary's Finance Minister Mihály Varga sought to justify Hungary's opposition to the EU aid package: "Hungary is ready to support Ukraine, but we do not wish to contribute to any new loan to be taken up by the EU.""