Introduction:
Pressure is mounting on Hungary not to veto the opening of EU membership talks and to provide economic support for Ukraine at this week’s crucial European Council summit, after Prime Minister Viktor Orbán called for the removal of this issue from the agenda. Ukraine is suffering from a two-year war with Russia and is in dire need of long-term financial and military support.
Decisions Regarding EU Enlargement:
The decisions regarding EU enlargement also concern Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, and Moldova this week, in addition to reviewing the union’s long-term budget which includes €50 billion in assistance for Kyiv. These decisions can be taken unanimously by all 27 member states.
Hungary’s Position:
Hungary relies on Russia for some energy supplies, and Orbán is seen as President Vladimir Putin’s strongest ally in Europe. The Budapest government has regularly stalled efforts to impose sanctions on Moscow related to the war. In a letter to European Council President Charles Michel, who will preside over the two-day summit starting Thursday, Orbán warned that forcing a decision on Ukraine could destroy the unity of the European Union.
Position of Other Countries:
European ministers and officials expressed confusion about what Orbán wants. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said the only way he can read Hungary’s position, not just on Ukraine but on many other issues, is that they are against Europe and everything Europe represents. He added that he hopes common sense prevails; if not, tough times may come ahead.
Orbán’s Position:
Orbán has become more outspoken about Ukraine, particularly regarding corruption there, since the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, suspended access to billions of euros in funding due to concerns about democratic backsliding in the country. The Commission already released some funds last month and is expected to facilitate access to an additional €10 billion for Hungary this week, but officials are skeptical about how impactful this will be on Thursday.
Ukraine’s Position:
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who also met with his EU counterparts on Monday, stated that his country “is still struggling to understand these harsh statements from Hungary.” He noted that Ukraine has met all the requirements needed to start EU membership talks.
Observers’ Expectations:
European observers noted that Orbán typically raises political stakes before major meetings but usually finds a way to reach compromises. However, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó rejected bowing to what he described as “tremendous pressure” from his EU partners. He claimed that the Commission’s assessment that Ukraine is meeting its obligations is “completely incorrect.” He warned that Hungary would oppose the next round of sanctions if the measures restricted its access to Russian energy sources.
The Recent Meeting:
At the inauguration of Argentina’s new president Javier Milei, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was seen exchanging brief words with Orbán. Zelensky later remarked, “It was a very candid conversation focused on our European affairs.”
Source: Associated Press
Source: https://apnews.com/article/eu-ukraine-hungary-orban-corruption-a2d819cbef5dd93e355134575fa7b5cd
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