BRUSSELS: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has intensified his opposition within the European Union by formally requesting the removal of discussions on Ukraine from the agenda of the upcoming EU summit scheduled for next week.
In a letter addressed to EU chief Charles Michel on Monday, Orban expressed skepticism over the EU’s approach to Ukraine, urging against decisions in December due to an “obvious lack of consensus” that could lead to failure.
This marks the second letter from Orban to Michel, demonstrating his resistance to aligning with EU decisions supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion. Orban, known for his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has previously sought to dilute sanctions on Moscow and has reluctantly supported EU initiatives in favor of Ukraine.
Challenges to Ukraine’s EU Membership Bid and Financial Aid
Decisions on additional financial aid to Kyiv and the initiation of EU membership negotiations with Ukraine require unanimous approval, making Hungary’s potential veto a significant challenge. The European Commission has recommended starting membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova and proposed a 50-billion-euro ($54 billion) financial aid package for Kyiv as part of the bloc’s long-term budget revision.
Orban, in his recent letter, cast doubt on the possibility of reaching a consensus on these agenda points at the upcoming summit, stating that expectations are “unfounded” based on the current level of technical and political preparations. He emphasized the need for a “strategic discussion” on the EU’s approach to Ukraine, asserting that key decisions cannot be made without a consensus on the future strategy towards the country.
Meanwhile, Orban has been publicly campaigning against the European Commission, which has frozen nearly 22 billion euros in EU funding for Hungary. Changes announced by Hungary to improve judicial independence could potentially lead to the release of up to 10 billion euros of those funds, according to Brussels.
