Hungary’s Orban says no to EU accession talks for Ukraine ahead of summit showdown

BRUSSELS – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban insisted on Dec 14 that the European Union should not yet start talks on Ukraine joining the bloc, a lone stand-out ahead of an EU summit that comes at a critical time for Kyiv in its war against Russia.

Mr Orban is also blocking giving €50 billion (S$72.8 billion) in financial aid to Kyiv from the EU budget, but signalled he could back long-term aid outside the EU budget, opening a door for some form of deal on that front.

Ukraine badly needs support from its Western allies in its nearly two-year fight against Moscow’s invasion.

Its counter-offensive has failed to make major gains, and United States President Joe Biden’s administration has so far been unable to get a US$60 billion (S$80 billion) aid package for Kyiv through the US Congress.

All of the EU’s 27 national leaders except Mr Orban have backed the start of accession talks, a decision that has to be unanimous.

“Hungarians… don’t bow to pressure,” Mr Orban said as he arrived in Brussels for the EU summit, referring to the start of accession talks.

“There are conditions, they were not met. The council is not in a position to decide,” he said, adding: “We have an opinion, and we will stand by that.”

The summit comes at a crucial time in Ukraine’s war against Russia’s invasion after a counter-offensive failed to make major gains.

The European Commission – the EU executive body – recommended in November that EU leaders agree to start accession talks with Ukraine, and the other 26 leaders are all on board.

Urging the leaders to open membership talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told them via video link: “I ask you one thing today – do not betray the people and their faith in Europe.”

Although the process would take years, starting it would be a boost for Kyiv.

Officials and diplomats said they were bracing themselves for a tough series of summit meetings that could go late into the night of Dec 15 or even into the weekend.

But such a decision requires unanimity and the Hungarian leader, who cultivates close ties with Moscow, has insisted Ukraine is not ready for such a step.

If EU leaders manage to approve membership talks and the four-year financial package, Kyiv will be able to claim a geopolitical victory.

Failure to agree would most likely be greeted by Moscow as a sign of faltering Western support for Ukraine.

On the eve of the two-day summit, Mr Zelensky said his country had carried out the necessary political reforms to get the go-ahead and urged the EU to honour its commitments.

Mr Orban mentioned a European Parliament election next June, saying the bloc should “behave democratically” and wait for this, potentially signalling a months-long delay to any start of talks on Ukraine.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said she was not optimistic, but added: “I hope we can get an agreement at least on some of the elements that are on the line.”

Officials say if Hungary sticks to its stance on aid as well, the EU’s other members could set up financing outside the budget for Ukraine, but that would be more complex and expensive.

“The most important thing that we need to decide here today and this weekend is that long-term financial support for Ukraine will be coming from the European Union,” Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said.

“If Ukraine doesn’t have support from the EU and the US, then (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will win,” Mr Varadkar added, describing the summit as one of the most important ones he had ever attended.

‘Support Ukraine’

Mr Putin said in a press conference and phone-in on Dec 14 that it looked like foreign aid was running out for Ukraine.

“What we decide or what we do not decide is a clear signal to Moscow to give, to Washington, to Beijing. And that’s why we have to decide that we support Ukraine,” Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said.

In intense diplomatic efforts on the matter, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met Mr Orban ahead of the summit, alongside European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and European Council chief Charles Michel.

Mr Orban has cited corruption in Ukraine and other concerns in justifying his stance.

But EU officials and diplomats suspect he is using the issue as a bargaining chip, hoping to obtain funds frozen by the bloc over concerns about the rule of law in Hungary.

The European Commission on Dec 13 restored Hungary’s access to up to €10.2 billion in refunds for economic projects after finding it had fulfilled conditions on the independence of its judiciary. REUTERS