Hungary on Wednesday asked for a review of the European Union’s policy on Ukraine, disagreeing with Germany, Lithuania, Finland and Ireland, which support Kyiv’s rapid rapprochement with the EU bloc and the provision of additional aid amid the Russian invasion, Reuters and Agerpres reported.

Hungary is a major obstacle to EU leaders’ decision next month to open formal accession talks with Ukraine once it fulfills all conditions and to allocate 50 billion euros in aid to Kyiv from the bloc’s budget until 2027.

These decisions require the unanimity of the 27 EU countries that have supported Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022.

But Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, trumpeting his close ties to Moscow, has since said the EU bloc’s strategy of sending money and military aid to Ukraine has failed and that he opposes opening accession talks with Kyiv.

Hungary demands a period of “reflection” on Ukraine

“We need a period of reflection and strategic discussion regarding the European Union’s policy towards Ukraine,” Hungarian European Affairs Minister János Bóka said on Wednesday, arriving for talks with EU colleagues on preparations for the summit. community of block leaders December 14-15.

Until such a discussion, Budapest will not support any EU decision to advance Ukraine’s accession process or provide additional aid to Kyiv, he said.

Orban complained that Ukraine restricts the rights of the Hungarian minority. He is also at odds with the EU over a freeze on Hungary’s access to funding amid concerns about the country’s democratic backsliding under his rule.

EU representatives said that any Hungarian veto on financial aid to Kyiv could find a solution. However, this will not apply to Ukraine’s invitation to start accession negotiations, which is supported by most other EU states.

“It is important that we reach an agreement on the financial framework in December to ensure that we can provide support to Ukraine,” German European Affairs Minister Anna Luhrmann said, echoing her Irish counterpart.

Several European officials rallied outside Kyiv

Finland’s Anders Adlerkreutz said that supporting Ukraine, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova – countries that sit between the EU and Russia and want to join the EU bloc one day – is a matter of security.

“It is extremely important that every European country understands that we must help Ukraine,” he said.

Jovita Neliupsiene, responsible for European affairs from Lithuania, said that the EU summit in December must decide on the promotion of a possible expansion of the community bloc, because otherwise the EU risks losing credibility.

Earlier, Hungary temporarily blocked similar decisions on aid to Ukraine and called for a “strategic” discussion on EU sanctions against Russia for starting the war.

In some cases, Orbán eventually joined the rest of the bloc, but not without the risk that the talks would be jeopardized by the concessions he wanted for Hungary. A high-ranking EU official expressed concern about a possible December decision to start negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU, given that consensus is needed:

“I don’t see a way out right now.”

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