A European Union summit focused on Ukraine’s future ended without a unified conclusion, as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blocked the approval of joint statements supporting the country. The move left 26 EU leaders endorsing an attached “extract” instead.
The opposition comes after Orbán publicly expressed his intention to veto the proposed language, citing concerns it contradicted US President Donald Trump’s deal-making initiative. This stance is aligned with Hungary’s strategic approach on Ukraine.
Despite the lack of consensus, EU leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine. European Council President António Costa stated that Hungary’s position is one out of 27, emphasizing the need for unity among EU members.
Costa acknowledged Orbán’s concerns but stressed the importance of supporting Ukraine with military and financial assistance. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed this sentiment, highlighting the urgency of providing aid to Ukraine’s armed forces.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán maintains that boosting military and financial support would be too costly for the EU and warns against relying on US backing in the future. However, he respects Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a sovereign leader and acknowledged his right to conduct negotiations with Russia.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/03/07/hungary-is-isolated-antonio-costa-says-after-orban-blocks-joint-eu-text-on-ukraine