Hungary, Brussels lock horns before decision on Ukraine
Hungary and the European Union’s executive locked horns on Wednesday over Ukraine’s bid to join the wealthy bloc, aggravating a dispute that could hold up Kyiv’s membership drive and was set to overshadow an EU summit.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban reaffirmed his opposition to offering neighbouring Ukraine fast-track accession at this week’s summit, saying parliament this would not serve the interests of Hungary or the 27-member EU.
Raising the stakes, the executive European Commission reminded Hungary it had still not taken the final step needed to unlock billions of euros in funds, frozen over concerns that Orban has damaged democratic checks and balances in his country.
Hungary, an EU member since 2004, later published further judicial reforms in its official journal. An EU official said the Commission was expected to unlock funds later in the day.
With both sides digging in their heels, Ukraine’s hopes of securing much-needed financial and military assistance to fight Russian forces hung in the balance.
Orban told parliament that starting talks with Ukraine to let it into the bloc one days was an idea that “at the moment is absurd, ridiculous and not serious.”
His comments contrasted sharply with remarks by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to the European Parliament.
“We must give Ukraine what it needs to be strong today so that it can be stronger tomorrow at the table when it is negotiating a longlasting and just peace for Ukraine,” she said.
Orban has threatened to veto proposals to allow Kyiv to start accession talks and to receive substantial financial and military aid from the EU budget.
Kyiv wants to join the EU and build alliances with the West as it distances itself further from
Moscow, while 50 billion euros ($54 billion) of economic support and 20 billion euros for Ukraine’s military would be vital for its war effort.
Ukraine is worried that Western military support may be dwindling nearly two years after Russia’s full-scale attack, and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited Washington this week to try to press Kyiv’s case for more aid.
He said during a visit to Oslo that Kyiv had done what was asked of it on the path to EU accession talks, and that Hungary had no reason to block Ukraine’s accession drive.
“From our side we have been very constructive. We have done absolutely everything, we completed the recommendations of the European Union,” Zelenskiy said.
Orban has threatened to veto proposals to allow Kyiv to start accession talks and to receive substantial financial and military aid from the EU budget.