The European Union and the Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU must consider achieving a ceasefire and peace talks resulting in a lasting and fair peace in Ukraine a priority, the head of ruling Fidesz’s group in the European Parliament said on Tuesday.
Kinga Gál told Hungarian journalists after a debate on the Belgian presidency’s programme and help for Ukraine that financial support for Ukraine was important but it was necessary to clarify first how much money had been spent on the war already and how this support had been used.
Hungary would not support the plan to take out a joint EU loan for helping Ukraine, she said. “The situation involving a prolonged war makes it difficult to plan ahead for four years; it is difficult to tell what type of financing Ukraine will need,” she said. It would be important to review the support annually, and European leaders should discuss this proposal at the extraordinary meeting to be held on Feb 1, she added.
Fundamental changes are needed
The Belgian presidency should return to the discussion of “Brussels’ forced and faulty migration pact” because the consequences of Europe’s migration policy “are now suffered by innocent people in the streets of western Europe, while anti-Semitism is growing stronger,” she said.
“Fundamental changes are needed to stop illegal migration at the external borders,” she said. “Member states that protect external borders should receive financial support from Brussels,” she added.
She called for an end to “double standards concerning the rule of law in EU decision-making”. She said it was unacceptable that Hungary was regularly targeted while “Brussels has been deeply silent for weeks about violations of the law in Warsaw.”
She expressed hope that the EP elections in June would bring about change and “the sovereigntist side can finally put an end to Brussels’ hypocrisy”.
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Hungary’s new demands: EU financial aid for Ukraine hangs in the balance
Hungary has put forth fresh demands to Brussels in return for removing its veto on the EU’s proposed EUR 50 billion fund for Ukraine after the summit in December was derailed.
Hungary’s veto and its impact
The proposed envelope, known as the Ukraine Facility, was designed to provide Kyiv with financial assistance between 2024 and 2027. The original plan intended for the Facility to be operational by now. However, Hungary’s veto during the recent European Council meeting stalled the process. Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán utilised his veto power to reject the proposal, tying it to a broader review of the EU’s common budget.
This move disrupted crucial financial support at a time when both the EU and the United States were navigating challenges in approving aid packages. Despite the setback, there is a potential breakthrough on the horizon, Euronews writes. EU leaders have scheduled a reconvening on 1 February, offering another opportunity to reconsider the Ukraine Facility.
Hungary’s demands
Ahead of this critical date, Hungary has put forward two key demands. Firstly, Hungary suggests dividing the EUR 50 billion package into four annual envelopes, each worth EUR 12.5 billion. However, this proposition introduces a risk as it requires unanimous approval every year. It potentially allows a single member state to block aid in subsequent years.
Secondly, Hungary demands a two-year extension for accessing EU COVID-19 recovery funds, citing restricted access to its national plan over rule-of-law concerns. With EUR 10.4 billion in its recovery plan and EUR 11.5 billion in frozen cohesion funds, Hungary insists on unfreezing the total EUR 20 billion before considering the Ukraine Facility, denouncing the situation as “financial blackmail”.
Hope amidst challenges
Despite challenges, Hungary’s engagement in discussions and proposal of alternatives signals a more constructive atmosphere. Ambassadors have approved a “partial negotiating mandate,” allowing formal talks to commence once a solution for the Ukraine Facility is reached. However, if the 27 member states fail to reach an agreement in February, Brussels may need to devise an alternative scheme outside the EU budget to ensure continuous financial support for Ukraine. Orbán, in a recent social media post, seemed to welcome this contingency plan, referring to it as the “Hungarian plan A.”
Italian PM’s role in potential resolution
According to Bloomberg, press reports indicate that Giorgia Meloni is attempting to broker a deal with Viktor Orbán. Meloni is reportedly urging Orbán to cease blocking EU aid to Ukraine and improve relations with Zelenskyy. In exchange, Meloni would pave the way for Orbán’s Fidesz party to join the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) party family, of which she is a leader.
Meloni is not only seeking Orbán’s cooperation on EU aid but is also pushing for a change in Orbán’s stance on Ukraine’s potential EU membership. Anonymous sources familiar with the matter indicate that these conditions are prerequisites for Fidesz to join the ECR. Discussions have occurred at various levels, but a definitive decision is still pending. Orbán’s press secretary has not responded to inquiries, and Meloni’s office has declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations.
Fidesz’s political shift and ECR membership talks
Fidesz, having left the European People’s Party (EPP) in 2021, has not been affiliated with any political group since. Orbán has emphasised ongoing negotiations to join the ECR, a group that includes Meloni’s party, the Italian Brothers and Poland’s Law and Justice (PiS).
The upcoming weeks will be critical in determining whether Hungary’s demands are met and potential compromises are reached. It will also decide the fate of EU financial aid for Ukraine.
Almost 200 thousand Hungarian soldiers fought in the heart of the Soviet Union, not far from the original Eastern Ukrainian border, between today’s Belgorod and Voronezh in January 1943. More than 120 thousand of them never returned home. But what did they do there?
Gaining back Hungarian land and people required Hitler’s support
After WWI, Hungary lost 2/3rd of its territories and 1/3rd of its Hungarian populace. Therefore, revision became one of the most important aims of the Hungarian foreign policy. Hitler’s Germany followed the same policy between 1938 and 1941, which resulted in gaining back more than 80 thousand km2 and millions of Hungarian nationals (together with other ethnicities like Romanians, Serbs and Slovaks). Unfortunately, the successes of the territorial revision joined Hungary’s fate with Nazi Germany’s.
When Germany attacked the Soviet Union, all the neighbouring countries joined Hitler. Romania and Slovakia marched together with the Wehrmacht. Only Hungary fell behind. The political leaders feared the quick German victories would drive Hungary into a difficult situation. Moreover, military leaders were sure Nazi Germans would defeat the Soviet Union in no time. Therefore, when unidentified planes appeared and attacked Kassa (now Slovakia, then the Kingdom of Hungary), Governor Miklós Horthy ordered the Hungarian troops to join the German invading forces.
After the first defeats, Hungary became important
Hungarian help in the Soviet Union was only a minor contribution in 1941 since the Germans did not need it due to the quick victories. But after the defeat near Moscow (December 1941), everything changed. Hitler demanded an entire Hungarian army be placed on the Eastern front.
That was the Hungarian Second Army arriving in today’s East Ukraine in the summer of 1942. Afterwards, they engaged in fierce fighting near the River Don, during which they suffered considerable losses concerning more than 30 thousand soldiers out of the 190 thousand. Then came the winter and the minus 30-40 degrees.
The Soviets outnumbered the Hungarian troops, taking defensive positions on the Don Bend, for which they lacked both modern weapons, ammunition, vehicles, planes, equipment, clothing, etc. For example, the Soviet artillery outnumbered the Hungarian 5:1, while there were 2.7 times more Soviet soldiers than Hungarians. Thus, the catastrophe was inevitable.
Unstoppable Soviet attack destroyed the Hungarian army
The Soviet attack started on 12 January, and in a couple of days, they defeated the Hungarian troops even though some fought valiantly against the Soviet superiority. The Germans did not help the withdrawing Hungarians. What’s more, they took what they could and did not allow them into the villages they occupied to rest.
You may find the Hungarian troops in the centre top of the map under the name Jany. Source: Creative Commons
The Hungarian commander, Gusztáv Jány, first called the Hungarian soldiers cowards for retreating. That resulted in a general outcry, and Horthy ordered him to withdraw that statement. By 3 March, only 2,913 officers and 61,116 soldiers could escape death, freeze or the Soviet POW camps (which meant almost the same). Considering the losses suffered during the summer fights, we can say that Hungary lost about 150 thousand people to the Soviet Union by 1943 spring (dead, POWs). That was unacceptable and could not be replaced ever.
Gusztáv Jány was executed in November 1947 and posthumously exonerated in 1993 by the Supreme Court of Hungary.
Controversial opinions
Opinions about the Second Hungarian Army (and other Hungarian troops fighting or carrying out other tasks in the Soviet Union) divide. Some believe that Hungarians were defending their families, traditions, etc. against the plague of Bolshevism in the Soviet Union. As a result, they are heroes.
Others claim they were invaders who joined the bad cause (Hitler’s campaign), and some of them committed horrors even against the civilians and the Jews. They think that the lost souls in the Don Bend were at best, victims of Hitler and Horthy, who were not supposed to be there but still carried out their duties.
Hungary commemorates soldiers lost at the Don bend
Soldiers of the Second Hungarian Army who lost their lives in battle with Soviet forces at the Don bend 81 years earlier were honoured at a commemoration in Budapest’s Fiume Street cemetery on Friday.
Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said 100,000-120,000 Hungarian troops had been killed, wounded, taken prisoner or gone missing in action during the WWII battle.
Chief of the Hungarian Defence Forces Gabor Böröndi called the battle one of the bloodiest defeats in Hungarian history.
Concert honours memory of 1956 martyr
A concert was performed in honour of Árpád Brusznyai, a martyr of the 1956 Hungarian anti-Soviet Revolution, in Veszprém, in the west of Hungary, on Saturday.
Speaking at the event, marking the hundredth anniversary of Brusznyai’s birth, President Katalin Novák said heroes were people who “put their ideas into practice”, adding that their greatness came from the fact that they were “no different from us”.
“They were boys and girls, fathers and mothers, people facing the challenges of everyday life,” she said.
Negotiations started to organise an Orbán-Zelenskyy summit. PM Viktor Orbán has not visited Kyiv since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. He also expressed several times that he did not believe in Ukrainian victory and slammed Kyiv for being corrupt. Therefore, Orbán was against sending more EU aid to the country. What’s more, he even accused Brussels of not giving Hungary development and RRF funds because those financial assets are already in Ukraine.
Therefore, the possible meeting of the Hungarian and Ukrainian leaders may end a very tense era of mutual accusations. Ukrainian leaders suggested several times that the Orbán cabinet was supporting Russia and, in that regard, they found powerful supporters, especially the Biden administration in the United States.
According to portfolio.hu, Ukraine and Hungary must hammer out the precise details of the coming Orbán-Zelenskyy summit. That comes after Orbán and the Hungarian foreign ministry highlighted several times that a summit should only be held if the two leaders can sign agreements.
As we wroteyesterday, the Hungarian and Ukrainian foreign ministers are to meet in Ungvár (Uzhorod) in Transcarpathia on 29 January. That is when they will discuss the meeting of the two country leaders.
Foreign minister Péter Szijjártó said yesterday that a Hungary-Ukraine summit “would make sense only” if it was well-prepared. The meeting’s aim is “to examine whether a top-level meeting would further bilateral relations”, and to review the tasks necessary “for a meeting between the leaders of the two countries to have a hope of success.”
Orbán may join one of the biggest EU parties
On 1 February, there will be an EU summit to work out an alliance between the 26 EU member states if Orbán continues to veto the EU support for Ukraine. However, Reuters wrote Brussels hoped Hungary would give that standpoint up before that happened.
Interestingly, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni would welcome Orbán’s Fidesz in the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group provided the Hungarian prime minister supported the EU support for Ukraine in February. That would mean EUR 50 billion for Kyiv. Fidesz left the European People’s Party (EPP) in 2019.
In December, Balázs Orbán, the prime minister’s political director, said a green light was unimaginable until Hungary got all EU development and RRF funds. Later, Brussels promised EUR 10 billion out of the almost 30 billion for Hungary.
Bloomberg said that Meloni wanted Orbán to normalise his relationship with Zelenskyy. That is probably why a summit has to be arranged.
ECR may become the third biggest party in the European Parliament after the 2024 European parliamentary elections if Fidesz joins their ranks.
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The Hungarian and Ukrainian foreign ministers are slated to meet in Uzhorod (Ungvár) on January 29, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Thursday.
Responding to a question at a press conference with his Montenegrin counterpart, Szijjártó said a Hungary-Ukraine summit “would make sense only” if it was well-prepared.
As part of that preparation, Szijjártó and Dmitro Kuleba will meet on January 29 to discuss bilateral cooperation and “to examine whether a top-level meeting would further bilateral relations”, and to review the tasks necessary “for a meeting between the leaders of the two countries to have a hope of success.”
“I am ready. We have both dedicated January 29 for that meeting in Uzhorod,” Szijjártó said.
He also signalled readiness to meet again Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian president’s office, “but a proposal of the date is yet to be forthcoming”.
Regarding the EU funds withheld from Hungary, Szijjártó warned against conflating issues “that have nothing to do with each other”. “Hungary is entitled to those EU resources, independently from Ukraine.”
“Those resources must be paid to Hungary. The European Commission has no right to withhold them.”
A significant portion of those monies is still being blocked for political reasons, Szijjártó said. The issue “is unrelated to the matter of the countries willing to join the EU, and our request remains the same: that we receive the EU funds,” he said.
Hungary has managed to secure 6 billion forints (EUR 15.8m) in compensation for corn farmers from Brussels for the impact of grain imports from Ukraine, the agriculture ministry said on Wednesday.
Hungarian farmers received HUF 5.9 billion in compensation for their losses as a consequence of EU measures affecting Ukrainian farm products last year, the ministry said in a statement. The European Commission compensated Hungary with EUR 15.9 million in response to pressure from the member states affected, it added.
It said the flood of Ukrainian farm products into Europe as a result of the protracted war between Russia and Ukraine and the “ill-advised” sanctions imposed by the EU had put farmers in neighbouring EU countries in “an extremely difficult situation”. In the absence of steps taken by the EU, Hungary was forced to impose a national ban on the import of Ukrainian farm products, it noted.
Hungary also considered it important for farmers to receive compensation, the ministry noted, adding that the EC had acknowledged the losses incurred by farmers and had approved partial compensation for them.
Corn farmers who are eligible for compensation were able to submit their application to the state treasury between Oct 1 and 15, the ministry said, adding that HUF 5.9 billion were paid out by the end of last year.
The ministry noted that Hungary was upholding its national ban on Ukrainian grain imports in the interest of restoring the earlier market conditions and vowed that the country would continue to fight for farmers interests in Brussels together with other affected member states.
The head of the Hungarian Interchurch Aid, László Lehel, reflects on the positive impact Hungary has made on the lives of Ukrainians. The people of cities such as Mykolaiv and Khmelnytskyi have not remained indifferent to Hungary’s generosity and unceasing efforts.
A significant contribution
Hungary’s well-coordinated relief efforts, led by the Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA), have reached far and wide, leaving a lasting impact on the war-torn country. A substantial sum of HUF 11.6 billion (EUR 30.7 million), though modest in the context of a nation at war, has been efficiently utilised, Mandiner.hu writes. Half a million people in Ukraine have benefited from this aid. The achievement can be attributed to the organisation’s skilled staff and efficiency. Notably, HUF 2.9 billion (EUR 7.6 million) was also contributed by the Hungarian government through the Hungary Helps programme.
Diverse humanitarian projects
The Hungary Helps programme has been instrumental in the establishment of a school, a kindergarten, a medical clinic and an ambulance station in the Kyiv region. The relief efforts extend beyond these projects to include support for the Hungarian, Ruthenian and Ukrainian populations in Transcarpathia. The organisation has played a crucial role in aiding those fleeing the Russian offensive, creating a network of interconnected projects that address the broader challenges faced by the affected communities.
László Lehel emphasised the organisation’s commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that not only Hungarians but also other communities receive assistance. This approach aims to prevent envy and fosters a sense of unity among diverse groups. The organisation continues to provide essential support for local Hungarians, including the elderly, those living alone and families with children.
Early challenges and ongoing efforts
We didn’t push anything, the important thing was what would really help them
noted László Lehel. Assessing each community’s specific requirements, the organisation provides targeted aid, whether it be toys for children, washing machines or other essentials. The focus is on making a meaningful impact. The initial period presented significant challenges, with an influx of refugees testing the organisation’s capabilities. Despite the difficulties, solidarity prevailed, and the Hungarian community showed support for refugees. Over time, the pressure from refugees has diminished, allowing a return to normalcy in some areas. The organisation continues to adapt, focusing on reconstruction efforts and supporting internally displaced people within Ukraine.
Building a new future
As the situation stabilises, a new phase has begun, marked by the arrival of companies in the safe counties of Ukraine. This has led to changes in population proportions and an increase in wages. The relief organisation remains actively engaged in reconstruction efforts, playing a pivotal role in the rebuilding of kindergartens, insulation of buildings and the integration of displaced persons.
Hungarian aid workers have left a deep impression on the locals
László Lehel recounts touching moments, such as encounters with Ukrainians in Mykolaiv and Khmelnytskyi, who expressed immense gratitude for Hungary’s support. The organisation’s transparent and credible approach, coupled with efficient problem-solving, has garnered appreciation from both the local populace and regional leaders.
Bringing hope beyond material aid
While material assistance is crucial, the organisation recognises the importance of providing hope. Lehel shared a heartwarming moment in Borodianka, where a young girl, amidst the ruins, offered a small token of appreciation – a piece of chocolate. This gesture shows the impact of not just helping materially but also instilling a sense of hope in the midst of adversity. Hungary’s support for Ukraine, though a drop in the ocean, has created ripples of hope that extend far beyond the immediate crisis.
Hungarians stand behind the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia, in western Ukraine, a government official said on Saturday in Sátoraljaújhely, in north-eastern Hungary, where he welcomed families at a camp organised by the Rákóczi Association.
Government bodies, municipalities, aid groups and churches in and outside Hungary have stood together to help Transcarpathian Hungarians, Miklós Panyi, state secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office for policy and strategic affairs, said.
The government is providing educational support, wage subsidies, financing for churches and civil organisations, as well as subsidies for the humanitarian activities of aid groups, he noted.
Fully 200 parents and children have arrived at the Sátoraljaújhely camp from western Ukraine to take a break from the everyday burdens of the war.
The Rákóczi Association is planning 100 programmes this year centered on Hungarian youth, Csongor Csáky, the head of the Rákóczi Association, told public media on Friday.
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Hungarian foreign minister meetsUkraine counterpart
Ukrainian border guards stopped 12 border crossers with warning shots on Tuesday at the Ukrainian-Hungarian green border. The all-male group turned out to be trying to escape to Hungary in order to avoid conscription.
As reported by Kárpáti Igaz Szó, according to a report from the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service on Wednesday, the staff of the Astei branch of the Mukachevo Border Guard Fetachment on Tuesday spotted a group of 12 people on foot heading towards Hungary.
The members of the group – all of them men of military age – did not stop even when the border guards called them to do so. The border guards were only able to force them to stop by firing several shots into the air.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the detained persons are residents of Transcarpathia. The Border Patrol forwarded the case to the police, who initiated proceedings for illegal border crossing and disobeying the authorities. The border guards also managed to identify and arrest the man who had transported the Transcarpathian men to the green border for 12,000 hryvnias (approximately EUR 290) each.
According to Telex, the search for ways out of military conscription in Ukraine has reached serious proportions. In August, a network of doctors was uncovered, offering bribes of between USD 3,000 and USD 15,000 to provide exemption certificates, allowing thousands of Ukrainians to escape conscription abroad.
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó spoke with Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, by phone, and said Hungary had a vested interest in maintaining good relations with all its neighbours.
“Continuous, high-level talks are important because they give us hope to improving our ties, and we have an interest in maintaining the best possible relations with all of our neighbours. We will, of course, not change our pro-peace stance, but I am looking forward to our personal meeting in January, as an opportunity to discuss the most pressing bilateral issues,” he said on Facebook after the talks.
Rather than being driven by rational decisions, the European Union’s enlargement process is becoming increasingly politicised, the minister for EU affairs said on Thursday.
While it had been long seen as objective and merit-based, the procedure’s values and seriousness “are now becoming questionable”, János Bóka said on Facebook.
“Should a candidate for membership realise they do not have to fulfil conditions and go through a pre-determined procedure, the entire procedure may turn into politically motivated power demonstrations,” he warned.
That may lead to candidates seeking “political protectors” inside or outside the EU and use their power to influence the accession procedure. The speed of integration would then depend on the size and strength of the protectors, rather than the conditions fulfilled, Boka said. “Such practices would further rock the already cracked foundations of the European Union’s unity.”
Regarding Ukraine’s EU membership, Boka said it remained uncertain if or when the talks on it would start. “We are at the start of a process containing 75-80 points requiring a unanimous vote from member states. Then, the accepted accession talks will have to be ratified by the parliament of each individual member state,” he said.
“The financing of Ukraine is a similarly complicated issue . the situation is changing almost day by day due to the war. Consequently, it is impossible to make responsible statements on its financial needs in the coming four years,” he said.
“To ensure the necessary support for Ukraine, Hungary is promoting an inter-governmental fund to be set up outside of the EU’s budgetary framework. The member states would be free to make contributions as they see fit. Until the fund is set up, support can be ensured from the current budget . there would be no need to amend the seven-year financial framework,” he said.
In a move that could shape the future of Ukrainian-Hungarian relations, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has extended an invitation to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for a bilateral summit. The international community awaits confirmation and details.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy extends invitation
According to Economx’s recent article, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has taken a diplomatic step by extending an invitation to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for a bilateral meeting. The overture comes amidst ongoing discussions about potential talks between the two leaders, with the aim of addressing a spectrum of bilateral issues.
Conflicting reports on Orbán’s acceptance
While the Ukrainian newspaper, Korrespondent’s reports suggest that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has already accepted the invitation, other sources remain cautious, emphasising the possibility of a meeting rather than confirming Orbán’s commitment. The dynamics surrounding the summit are still unfolding, keeping the international community on the edge of anticipation.
Preparations underway: Insights from the Ukrainian Presidential Office
Furthermore, Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration, shed light on the preparations for the proposed summit. He highlighted the significance of Ukraine’s adherence to the framework law on national minorities, aligning with recommendations from the European Commission. Notably, all but one of the recommendations, as outlined by the Venice Commission, have been implemented. This aspect is crucial, considering Hungary’s primary critique of Ukraine centres around alleged infringements on the rights of national minorities.
Agenda for discussion: A broad spectrum of topics
Deputy Head Zhovkva suggested that the potential talks between President Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Orbán could span a wide range of issues, reflecting the depth of bilateral relations. From economic matters to concerns related to national minorities, the agenda for the meeting appears comprehensive. In an interview with Interfax-Ukraine, Zhovkva remarked
We can talk about the economy, we can talk about transit between neighbouring states…there is nothing better in diplomacy than a one-on-one meeting.
This statement underscores the potential for a substantive and multifaceted dialogue between the Ukrainian and Hungarian leaders.
According to Newsweek, PM Viktor Orbán is Russian President Putin’s ally. What’s more, he made a secret agreement with the European Union, enabling the EU 26 to help Kyiv with a more than EUR 50 billion aid package. Furthermore, it came to light why Ukraine did not allow former president Poroshenko to come to Hungary and allegedly meet Orbán.
As we wrote earlier, PM Orbán left the roomduring an EU summit about Ukraine’s EU accession. As a result, the leaders of the member states could accept a resolution about starting the accession process. Of course, that does not mean Ukraine will become a member state this year or the next. Instead of a meaningful support, it is a gesture. However, Orbán vetoedthe modification of the EU budget, which means Brussels will not be able to help Kyiv with EUR billions.
In that case, however, it seems standpoints have changed. Newsweek wrote that Orbán made a secret pact with the EU that the other 26 bloc members may transfer the money to Ukraine. But Hungary will be exempted. He suggested the EU to strike a separate deal among the 26 bloc members.
New deal and separate agreement
Newsweek highlightedthat Orbán was ally of Putin in Europe. Furthermore, instead of delivering weapons and providing help and money for Ukraine, he promoted ceasefire and peace talks, which they suggest was a treasonous standpoint concerning the North-Atlantic alliance.
“If you send weapons, if you finance the entire annual budget of one of the belligerents, if you promise more and more weapons, more and more modern weapons, then you can say whatever you want. No matter what you say, you are in the war,” he said.
“It’s possible for the 26 member states to provide the money on a bilateral basis,” Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said. “A bit of time and space over the Christmas period might help.”
Dutch PM Mark Rutte seemed confident about an agreement in 2024 about the issue.
The Orbán government transferred EUR 900 thousand to Zelenskyy’s Ukrainian rival
As we wrotebefore, former Ukrainian President, and one of Zelenskyy’s rivals, Petro Poroshenko, planned to travel to Hungary earlier this December. However, he was not allowed to cross the border. According to the Ukrainian Secret Service, they wanted to prevent a Porosenko-Orbán meeting.
According to index.hu, Poroshenko’s party, the European Solidarity, received almost EUR 900 thousand (HUF 343 million) before the alleged meeting with the Hungarian government. The money arrived a week before Poroshenko’s journey.
Poroshenko’s party confirmed the money transfer but said that it was not only Hungary who gave money to them. An independent team would decide about the sum’s investment.
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Aleksandr Katsuba, a key figure in Ukraine’s energy sector and the owner of ALFA GAS, reflects on his past and present challenges, including his controversial involvement in the “Boiko’s Towers” case and his commitment to philanthropy during wartime.
A decade ago, Katsuba held a significant position as the Deputy Chairman at “Naftogaz of Ukraine”. His journey, tied to the high-profile “Boiko’s Towers” scandal, was recently scrutinized by UNN, shedding light on his turbulent past. Accusations swirled on Telegram channels, suggesting Katsuba sought to reclaim 100 million hryvnias, which he had paid as bail. He refutes these claims, asserting that his sole aim is to clear his name and restore his tarnished business reputation.
Katsuba’s role in the “Boiko’s Towers” case, where Chornomornaftogaz purchased two oil drilling rigs in 2012 at allegedly inflated prices, placed him under the judicial microscope. He emphasizes his limited involvement in the financial aspects of the deal, overseen by higher echelons of the Ukrainian government and various ministries.
Despite the pressure and the complexity of the case, Katsuba did not flee Ukraine during the turbulent times of Yanukovych’s regime. Instead, he chose to face the legal challenges head-on, seeking competent legal representation to navigate through the judicial system. His persistence in challenging the legal proceedings is not just about clearing his name but also about exposing the flaws in the judicial process and the necessity for a fair trial.
Reflecting on the past, Katsuba questions the inflated prices of the drilling rigs and acknowledges that while there might have been overpricing, the urgency of the situation at that time played a crucial role. He stresses that decisions of such magnitude were not in his purview but were the responsibility of top government officials.
Katsuba’s fight for justice coincided with the tumultuous times of the coronavirus pandemic and the full-scale war. During this period, he shifted his focus to supporting Ukraine’s military efforts and preserving his business. His volunteering efforts, particularly in providing vehicles to the army, highlight his commitment to his country during these challenging times.
The accusations against Katsuba, particularly regarding the 100 million hryvnias, are seen by him as a simplification for public consumption, obscuring the intricate legal nuances of his case. He suspects that those who stand to lose from a genuine investigation or the emergence of real perpetrators are behind this smear campaign.
Currently, Katsuba is actively involved in the gas market and other business ventures, including online lending and automotive publishing. His companies have adapted to the changing market conditions, demonstrating resilience and innovation. Despite the war and its challenges, Katsuba remains a significant player in Ukraine’s energy sector, contributing to the country’s economic stability and growth.
Katsuba’s story is not just a personal saga of legal battles and business ventures but also a reflection of the broader challenges facing Ukraine. His experiences highlight the need for a transparent judicial system, the importance of energy independence, and the role of business leaders in times of national crisis. As Ukraine continues to navigate through these tumultuous times, figures like Katsuba play a crucial role in shaping its future, both economically and socially.
There is no war in Ukraine, Viktor Orbán said at a government briefing on Thursday. Asked why, during his visit to Beijing, in the company of Vladimir Putin, he called the war in Ukraine a military operation according to the Russian narrative, he said “because it is a military operation, as long as there is no declaration of war between the two countries”.
You read that right: Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary, neighbour country of Ukraine, just said that there is no war in Ukraine. He called it a “military operation” (which is in line with the Russian narrative), and he said the reason was that there has not been an official proclamation of war.
“Let us rejoice as long as there is no war. Because if there is a war, there is a general mobilisation, and I don’t wish that on anyone,” the prime minister said. Orbán not only took the already pushed Russian narrative of war in the pro-government press to a new level, but also contradicted all his own previous statements, Telex writes.
So far, the narrative has been clear: there is a serious war going on in Ukraine that Hungary needs to stay out of. Orbán said there was a war in the neighbouring country even a day ago. Yesterday, it was an important point to make, as he had to argue against Ukraine’s opening of EU accession negotiations.
“It seems to me that we have three problems at once, and the world and our lives are more dangerous than they were a year ago. We are plagued by the war between Russia and Ukraine,”
Orbán said.
Photo: FB
“But we’ve never done it before where we have a country that is at war and we start negotiations with a country that is at war,”
he added.
Most recently, his foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, has said that this staying out of the war is the greatest success of Hungarian foreign policy. Russian propaganda was still prevalent though: he suggested that what is happening is the responsibility of the West, or perhaps of the actor Zelenskyy, who is at war instead of negotiating.
“To call what Russia is doing in Ukraine a war is not a legal question, but a universal moral question,” Telex concludes. How PM Orbán can soundly sleep at night or look into the mirror still, is a question for another day.
President Katalin Novák expressed her support and sympathy for ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region in an interview with local weekly Kárpáti Igaz Szó, assuring the community that “we are with them in our thoughts, words and prayers every day, especially at Christmas time.”
In the interview published on Thursday, Nováknoted that she had visited Kyiv at the invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky twice this past year, with her latest visit having been in August.
The president said she had conveyed the intent to make peace, along with the wish for the guarantee of the rights of the Hungarian minority to her Ukrainian counterpart. She said ethnic Hungarians had to simultaneously endure the difficulties of their everyday lives, the burden of war, restrictions to their rights and the consequences of internal migration.
Novák said the Transcarpathian Hungarian community could find strength in their faith and their Hungarian identity.
“The free use of the mother tongue isn’t just a requirement for the survival of an indigenous national minority, but one of the most fundamental European human rights norms,” the president said, adding that the leaders of the motherland could not ignore this right being questioned.
Concerning the talks, Novák advised caution about drawing conclusions, adding, however, that it was a “good sign” that she had spoken with Zelensky multiple times since. She said it was important that Zelensky had visited Berehove (Beregszász) for a second time after their talks to meet with the leaders of local ethnic Hungarian organisations.
She said ethnic Hungarian leaders, too, had spoken of “meaningful progress”, but what that would be enough for was still to be seen.
Novák said the new law on minority rights passed by Ukraine’s parliament was a “necessary but not sufficient” step towards easing the restrictions to ethnic Hungarians’ rights. She said the aim to restore the rights of minorities prior to 2015 was not just “Hungarian stubbornness”, arguing that taking away previously acquired minority rights and the right to the free use of the mother tongue was not acceptable in Europe, either.
Hungary’s demands, she said, were actually European requirements. “This is the bare minimum now that Brussels has decided to enter into accession talks,” she said.
Underlining the importance of peace, Novák said it was difficult to say how the conditions for peace could be reached, adding that the most important aim now was to bring an end to the “destructive phase” of the war.
The president called for negotiations on how each side could achieve their goals by peaceful means and talks.
She said Transcarpathian Hungarians had an interest in both Ukraine’s and Hungary’s prosperity and a peaceful coexistence with their broader environment.
Novák said progress required unity between Hungary and Ukraine, adding that Hungary was prepared to maintain fair relations if it saw that ethnic Hungarians were respected.
Ukraine, she said, still had a “long road” to navigate to join the alliances Hungary is a part of, adding that it would be impossible for the country to get there without Transcarpathian Hungarians.
Novák said she wanted her meetings with Zelensky to convey the message that if the Hungarian president was able to engage in talks with the Ukrainian president, then dialogue between Ukrainians and Hungarians was also possible.
Hungary-Slovakia relations are in peak shape, and both sides have a mutual interest in developing them further, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said on Wednesday.
Addressing a joint press conference with Slovak counterpart Juraj Blanar, Szijjártó said his visit, barely weeks after the Bratislava government was formed, was a clear testament to the “great importance attached to enhancing relations on both sides of the Danube”.
Both governments, he said, were interested in developing good neighbourly ties with a view to finding similar responses to the serious challenges facing the world today.
Both, he added, wanted peace in Ukraine and no solution could be found on the battlefield.
Also, both countries wanted a strong and competitive European Union based on strong member states that could preserve their national sovereignty, Szijjártó said, adding that both supported integrating the Western Balkans and they were against the world being divided into blocs.
Regarding joint action against illegal migration, the minister said both countries insisted on deciding for themselves whom to allow in and whom they were willing to live with.
Szijjártó said “Brussels can be sure” both countries rejected mandatory resettlement quotas.
On the subject of security, he noted that the Hungarian and Czech air forces will protect Slovakia’s airspace from Jan 1, indicating “mutual trust greater than ever before”.
Regarding optimising the permeability of the 654km common border, he said since the 2014 agreement between the two countries’ premiers, Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico, multiple new links have been built. This year alone two bridges over the River Ipoly were inaugurated, while the next will be handed over on Jan 12. Both sides are ready to enter into a new agreement on infrastructure developments, he added.
Regarding energy security, Szijjártó said Hungary and Slovakia were fully behind nuclear energy and the energy mix was a sovereign matter.
Neither would agree to sanctions that imperiled their energy supply, he said, adding that Hungarian-Slovak teamwork in negotiating exemptions from the latest EU sanctions package had been noteworthy.
“We look forward with great excitement and anticipation to Prime Minister Robert Fico’s visit to Hungary,” he said, adding that this would likely take place early next year.
Blanar also hailed bilateral ties and expressed sharp protest against “any kind of mandatory EU resettlement quota” or fines for non-compliance. Slovakia, he added, would return to the flexible solidarity it had previously shown, helping to protect Hungary’s southern border by sending police officers there, for instance.
On the issue of the war in Ukraine, he said there was no military solution to the conflict, and Slovakia would “demand peace even more loudly”.
The matter of Ukraine’s European Union accession has not been settled, and all that is certain is that there is no longer unity on this issue within the EU, the prime minister’s policy director told public radio on Sunday.
Hungary made it clear at this week’s summit of EU leaders that it disagrees with Ukraine’s EU membership and considers any start to accession talks to be premature, unjustified and not properly prepared, Balázs Orbán said.
But the other 26 member states insisted that a positive message had to be sent to Ukraine and pointed out that accession talks would take a long time, he added.
Orbán said there were at least 75 occasions that would require unanimity and therefore Hungary’s support in order for the process to move forward, and Hungary’s parliament would also have to approve it.
Hungary, he said, had voiced its disagreement and let the other 26 member states make the decision.
Orbán said the EU’s founding treaty made it clear that the bloc could only be enlarged with the agreement of member states, adding that Hungary’s right could not be restricted beyond a certain point by any procedural rule.
He said the discourse had been about the seven criteria the EU had set for Ukraine in order for it to receive candidate country status of which the European Commission says it had only fulfilled four, while Hungary says it had not fulfilled any.
Orbán said this meant progress on the accession talks was untimely.
As regards the EU budget, he said Hungary’s stance was that the budget did not need to be amended because every issue could be managed outside the framework of the budget or by diverting funds within it.
Hungary is prepared to discuss the issue but had its set of terms, he said, noting that Hungary did not want “Hungarians’ money to be given to Ukraine” and called for a strategic debate on Ukraine’s financing.
As regards the EU recovery monies, he ruled out Hungary’s contribution to the higher interest burdens until Hungary gained access to the funds it was entitled to.
Orbán also said the proposed changes to the EU budget also concerned migration and additional funding to improve Europe’s economic competitiveness, noting Hungary had indicated that it agreed with multiple points of the proposal.
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