Arr, Hungary be raisin' a ruckus over Ukraine's desire to join the EU! Avast ye, mateys, trouble be brewin'!
2023-12-11
Avast ye scoundrels! Hungary's cap'n, Viktor Orban, be demandin' the scrappin' o' Ukraine's talks o' membership and aid from th' EU summit agenda, sayeth th' officials. Aye, tis a storm brewin' in these waters, me hearties!
Pressure is mounting on Hungary not to veto the opening of European Union membership talks and economic aid to Ukraine at an EU summit this week. Prime Minister Viktor Orban demanded that the issue be removed from the agenda, but EU leaders have decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine. Orban, however, is not backing down and insists on a "strategic discussion" given the stalemate on the battlefield and uncertainty about US leadership after next year's elections. Hungary relies on Russia for energy supplies, and Orban is seen as President Vladimir Putin's strongest ally in Europe. The government in Budapest has routinely blocked work on sanctions against Russia linked to the war. Other government leaders, ministers, and EU officials are perplexed about Orban's position. Hungary's access to EU funding has been blocked over concerns about democratic backsliding in the country, and although some funds have been released, it is unclear whether it will make a difference. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed confusion over Hungary's harsh statements, as Ukraine claims to have met all the conditions required for EU membership talks to start. EU diplomats have noted that Orban often raises the political stakes ahead of key meetings but usually finds compromises. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto refused to bow to pressure from his EU partners and warned that Hungary would veto the next round of sanctions if they restrict its access to Russian energy sources.