EU to punish Hungary? The hidden consequences of blocking Ukraine!
Ukraine is on a long road to joining the European Union, but the process is currently facing a serious obstacle: Hungary is unwilling to agree to continue negotiations. Hungary is the only one of the 27 EU member states blocking the next steps, leading to increasingly heated debates and political tensions in Brussels.
According to Portfolio, this is not just an administrative obstacle, but part of a deeper conflict within the EU. Hungary has long pursued a policy of detachment, often defying majority decisions, which is leading more and more member states to demand tougher action against it.
The diplomatic negotiations between Hungary and Ukraine
The Ukrainian leadership has repeatedly tried to negotiate with Hungary to resolve the situation, with Ukrainian President Zelensky and Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán meeting twice and Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó also holding talks with the Ukrainian side, notably on the rights of the Hungarian minorities in Transcarpathia. Hungary argues that Ukraine does not properly guarantee the rights of the Hungarian community, which is one of the main reasons for the blockade.
At the same time, many in Brussels see the Hungarian government as obstructing the negotiations not only because of minority protection, but also for geopolitical and domestic political reasons. Hungary has long had closer ties with Russia and supporting Ukrainian accession would run counter to this policy.
According to Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishina, the first two parts of the negotiations about Ukraine’s accession to the EU were originally scheduled to open in mid-2025, but Hungarian opposition has made this uncertain. Ukraine has made a number of diplomatic efforts, including two high-level meetings between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and intensive talks with the Hungarian foreign minister on the rights of Hungarian minorities. Despite this, Hungary’s position has not changed and continues to block progress in the negotiations.
The response from the European Union
The Hungarian veto has sparked strong reactions from other EU countries. In response, EU leaders are drafting a declaration in which 26 member states will express their support for Ukraine, intentionally bypassing Hungary. The message is clear: if Orbán refuses to cooperate, the rest of the EU will move forward without him.
In addition, some countries, such as Estonia, are already proposing concrete sanctions. The toughest measure would be to launch an EU Article 7 procedure, which could even lead to the suspension of Hungary’s voting rights. This is an extreme step, which the EU has never fully applied against any member state before.
Strategic decisions or political games?
The question arises: is Hungary really blocking Ukraine’s accession in principle or is it playing a political game? This is not the first time that Hungary has tried to influence EU decisions at the last minute. In the past, for example, it approved Russian sanctions only after pressure from the US.
Orbán’s government often uses EU decision-making for its own political ends, whether by threatening to veto or delaying measures that are unfavourable to it. But the current situation shows that the EU’s patience is wearing thin. If Hungary continues to block joint decisions, it could weaken its own position in the EU in the long run.
The coming months will be critical in the relationship between Hungary and the EU. If Hungary continues to block Ukraine’s accession, the EU could impose increasingly severe sanctions and further isolate the Hungarian government. However, Orbán has so far been adept at manoeuvring in international politics.
It is possible that a compromise solution will eventually be found, but it is also possible that Hungary will be increasingly marginalised in the EU. One thing is certain: this is not just about the future of Ukraine, but also about Hungary’s role in the EU in the years to come.
Read also:
- Left-wing opposition DK calls for a real referendum on Ukraine’s EU accession
- Hungary will only vote to extend the EU sanctions list if a Russian oligarch is removed from it
Featured image: depositphotos.com
Ukraine’s EU accession is not really problem-ed by the fact that Hungary rejects it. In fact, Hungary is in the right here. Here is why.
Ukraine has not fulfilled the vast majority of the chapters required to join the EU:
-it is politically unstable both internally and externally
-has some major issues with corruption and working with actual Nazis
-does not fulfill the economic prerequisites to join in the first place
-does not fulfill the infrastructural obligation either, in terms of publicly available resources and facilities
The only reason the EU is insisting on Ukraine being part of the EU so fast is purely for political theater and the resources that Ukraine has. Hell, Montenegro, which is the current next candidate has been in the process for years and still has a long way to go.
There needs to be a better way.
And that “better way” is not under Communism nor a Dictatorship.
Hungary is not a DEMOCRACY.
Hungary is a DICTATORSHIP.
Hungary – does on, from Orban and his Fidesz Government, the “Judas” from Orban down are of DEMOCRACY, of the European Union, of Global – DEMOCRACY.
Out – Hungary be it in the IMMEDIATE future I say to the European Union.
Hungary, through Orban – a GARGANTUAN Debtor to the European Union in FINES – that are compoundable.
Don’t let Orban OFF in any shape or FORM, from these DEBTS – the DEBT over the heads of Millions of “on there knees” Hungarians, in a country that is growing a POLITICAL “time bomb” and Financially and Economically – of a Cataclysmic CAPITULATION.
Horrendous worsening TIMES lie ahead for us – HUNGARY.
Having Ukraine inside the EU is all about keeping the Russians out and thus further away from the rest of Europe. Once Putin takes Ukraine the Russians will be there forever and will forever be on the border of Hungary until the day he or his dictator successor actually decides to go into Hungary. Orban and his cronies have been bought by Putin and their instructions are to obstruct all assistance to Ukraine and in return they get their kickbacks. They are traitors to Hungary and Europe while they shamelessly portray themselves as guardians of Hungary. The rights of Hungarians in Transcarpathia are a ruse designed to drive Hungarian public opinion against Ukraine. You can see this by the way Fidesz looks the other way while Fico puts down Hungarians in Slovakia.
President Trump is working on ending the Russia/Ukraine war. It is time to support President Trump’s initiatives instead of hindering the process. The EU had 3 years to solve this problem, and the EU has failed. Time for Brussels to stop useless interference.