Balázs Orbán, Political Director to the Hungarian Prime Minister, gave a brief interview to Euronews on the sidelines of this week’s EU leaders’ summit in Brussels, during which he clarified Hungary’s stance on issues related to the war in Ukraine and Kyiv’s fast-track EU accession.
‘Integrating Ukraine into the European Union means we integrate confrontation with Russia, which shouldn’t be the case,’ Orbán highlighted in response to a question on why Hungary opposes Ukraine’s admission to the EU. He added that it is a mistake to proceed with the integration process without first resolving the war.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has refused to endorse the opening of formal accession talks with Ukraine despite intense pressure from EU leaders. He cited the recently concluded ‘Voks 2025’ public vote, in which 95 per cent of the more than 2 million Hungarians who participated opposed Kyiv’s accession.
Responding to a statement by Ukraine’s ambassador to the EU, who claimed that Kyiv would eventually be able to persuade Hungary to allow the accession, Balázs Orbán asserted that such efforts are already underway, pointing out that the Ukrainian leadership is openly supporting opposition forces against the Orbán government. He condemned Ukrainian interference in Hungarian domestic affairs and stressed that it should be for Hungarians to decide their country’s position. ‘Ukraine has the right to apply to the EU, but the Hungarians, who are members of the European Union, have the right to decide whether they accept this application or not,’ Orbán stated.
Hungary and Slovakia vetoed the EU’s 18th sanctions package on Thursday, which would have restricted and ultimately banned Russian oil imports into the EU. Prime Minister Orbán argued that the measures would double electricity prices and more than triple gas prices. Speaking to Euronews, Balázs Orbán recalled that punitive measures have failed to achieve their goals—namely, securing peace and exerting pressure on Russia—over the past three years. Moreover, he noted that the sanctions regime has weakened the EU’s economy. ‘Peace is not getting closer…and we didn’t weaken Russia,’ he pointed out.
Watch the full interview below:
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