How far is Giorgia Meloni prepared to go to convince Viktor Orban to lift his vetoes that cripple European Union aid to Ukraine? In Brussels and other capitals, the Italian premier is expected to act quickly, using political affinities with the Hungarian premier to push him to unblock the €50 billion financial aid package he vetoed at the mid-December European Council. Meloni has already been active behind the scenes. In return, she reportedly offered Orban the entry of the Fidesz party into the ECR group after the June 9 elections to renew the European Parliament. Time is running out. The extraordinary summit on Feb. 1 is approaching. Without an agreement by that date, Kyiv could find itself without money to pay salaries and pensions in April. If Hungary maintains its veto, alternative plans between the 26 member states are being studied. Negotiations are going on in parallel programs. European Council President Charles Michel's sherpa met with Orban on Wednesday to try to find a compromise. The Hungarian has set his conditions for reaching an understanding: the 50 billion must remain outside the EU budget, and Budapest must be guaranteed an annual veto on the allocation of aid to Kyiv. The Budapest premier also asked that the NextGenerationEu deadline be moved beyond 2026. Facing Orban, it will be helpful to count on Giorgia Meloni, explains to Foglio, a minister involved in the discussions but who requested anonymity. The minister says many things are done in inner circles before the big circle. The inner circles are the informal meetings between leaders, phone calls or video conferences in twos and threes, and even WhatsApp messages. The large circle is the European Council of 27. The minister refers to the small circle between Meloni, Olaf Scholz, and Emmanuel Macron. The Italian premier is fully involved and, with her political position, is a bridge to Orban. At the December European Council, Meloni had met with Orban just before the start of the summit, agreeing in advance with Scholz and Macron on the line to be taken. After threatening to veto the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine, Orban eventually agreed to Scholz's proposed solution of walking out of the room and not participating in the decision. It is unclear what Meloni's role was on that occasion. But the Hungarian premier knows he needs allies in the EU beyond the European Parliament. After the ouster of PIS from the government in Warsaw, Orban knows he needs at least one weighty ally inside the European Council. Faced with the remote possibility of being disenfranchised through the Article 7 Treaty procedure, Orban also needs protection. Meloni has many cards to play with Orban to make herself useful to Ukraine and increase her influence in the EU.