Orbán cites ‘lost sovereignty’ in reversal on Ukraine’s EU membership
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has long avoided real press coverage and rarely gives interviews to independent journalists. That’s why he attracted attention when he sat down for a chat with András Hont on the ÖT podcast recently.
The interview covered a number of topical domestic and foreign policy issues, including why the Hungarian government supported Ukraine’s candidacy for EU membership in 2022, while now campaigning for the opposite.
Pre-war hopes: diplomacy to avoid conflict
At the beginning of 2022, in the first weeks of the Russian invasion, the Hungarian government expressed its support for Ukraine’s application for EU membership. At the time, official communication stated that the Hungarian people wanted peace and supported any initiative that would help resolve the war situation through diplomacy. According to Telex, on the 1st of March 2022, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced that Hungary would join eight other EU countries in supporting Ukraine’s fast-track candidacy.
It is important to remember that by then, the Russian military invasion had been underway for a week, and Kyiv was under attack. At the time, the Hungarian government saw the EU perspective and the promise of accession as a peace instrument that could ease tensions and encourage diplomatic agreements.
The Hungarian government’s communication is based on this narrative: according to Orbán, there was still a “sovereign Ukraine” at that time, which had a chance of rapprochement with the EU. Now, he argues, we are talking about the accession of a country that no longer has full sovereignty.
Changed geopolitical realities
The current position of the Hungarian government is a sharp change from the past. Nowadays, Viktor Orbán believes that Ukraine’s accession to the EU is not only unfeasible, but would be downright damaging for Hungary. The new arguments include: Ukraine’s current status cannot be considered fully sovereign; it is not clear where the country’s borders lie, how large its territory is, or even how large its population is; the country’s capacity for self-sustainability is weak, and it cannot function without external support.
This change is not only rhetorical, but also political, as the Hungarian government has called for a referendum on whether the country should support Ukraine’s accession to the EU. According to Orbán, rejecting it would be in the national interest, as accession would impose a heavy financial, economic and social burden on Hungary.
EU enlargement and geopolitical tensions
Hungary’s position on Ukraine’s EU accession is closely linked to geopolitical tensions in the region and the Hungarian government’s own foreign policy strategy. The official communication of the 2022 support was aimed at promoting peace; today, however, decisions are dominated by national interest protection and jockeying for position within the EU, as 444 reported.
The Hungarian government argues that the current Ukrainian statehood does not allow for EU integration. And the EU is preparing, in Orbán’s words, for the accession of a country that “cannot sustain itself”, therefore placing additional financial and political burdens on member states.
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Poor Hungarians, they still think their are a sovereign country. If you want full sovereignty, then you should leave the EU just like UK did. Benefits without obligations is an utopia
Using Orban’s logic Hungary should have ended its’ existence after the loss of two thirds of its’ territory with the Trianon Agreement. It lost its’ sovereignty and they might as well have given all of the rest up and become a territory of one of the neighbouring countries.
Cut the shit Victor. You want Ukraine to give special rights to anyone who can produce a bloodline to Hungary, even if 100 years ago, while you shit all over Ukraine at every opportunity. Stop lying about your actions when we all know that you are a shill of Putin and now for Trump. How many international criminals can you cram into the clown car you have made the government of Hungary? How many foreign born “Hungarians” can you use to pad the voter rolls here?
“The new arguments include: Ukraine’s current status cannot be considered fully sovereign; it is not clear where the country’s borders lie, how large its territory is, or even how large its population is; the country’s capacity for self-sustainability is weak, and it cannot function without external support.”
An extraordinary example of projection — that is, of the attribution to another what is true of oneself. By all the measures named, Hungary is the twin of Ukraine.
I believe Mr. Orbán just made an excellent case as to why Ukraine should not surrender…
Our Politicians would “Fight!” if it Hungary would be in this situation, right? Or maybe not.