Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban reiterated his opposition to opening EU membership talks with Ukraine, calling it a “terrible mistake” despite Brussels signalling that it is about to release funds to Budapest.
The European Commission is expected to unlock 10 billion euros in frozen EU funding for Hungary later Wednesday, the eve of a crucial summit on support for Ukraine.
Critics accuse Orban of trying to blackmail Brussels to gain access to billions of euros in EU funding, which he denies.
EU leaders will meet in Brussels from Thursday to discuss renewing their support for Ukraine, with a 50-billion-euro macroeconomic package of 50 billion euros ($54 billion) and a promise of formal membership talks on the table.
Orban has threatened to veto both measures, which would condemn the summit to failure and leave Ukraine — and its neighbour Moldova, also hoping for membership talks — out in the cold almost two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“There has never been a single case in which our position on any policy issue… was determined by whether or not we receive financial support,” Orban said in an interview with the pro-government newspaper Mandiner.
He also reiterated his objections to the proposed start of EU membership talks with Kyiv.
“The European Union is about to make a terrible mistake, and they must be stopped. Even if there are 26 who want to do it and we are the only ones opposing it.”
Many in other EU capitals suspect that Orban is exploiting the summit and the power of his veto on enlargement to blackmail Brussels into resuming Hungary’s suspended transfer payments.
“If we want to support Ukraine, send a geostrategic signal, let’s do it, but this should not be membership,” Orban said, instead suggesting “a strategic partnership” with the war-torn country.
But in the interview, Orban also signalled he was open to compromise regarding “financial questions”.
“I am willing to make financial deals on financial issues, but I am not willing to make strategic or policy deals on financial issues,” he said, without specifying whether he was referring to aid for Ukraine.
Asked about a possible “Huxit” (exit from the EU), Orban said he wouldn’t want to leave, “but… take over Brussels”, adding he would prefer that “all of Europe looked like” Hungary.
Since 2010, Orban has regularly clashed with Brussels, on issues ranging from the independence of the judiciary to migration policy and the rights of the LGBTQ community.
