Hungary and Slovakia Threaten to Derail EU Summit on Ukraine (Worthy News Investigation)
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Hungary and Slovakia threaten to derail the emergency European Union summit on war-torn Ukraine and defense.
If other EU nations insist on continuing military support for Ukraine against Russia, leaders will not reach an agreement in Brussels on Thursday, warned Prime Ministers Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico on Saturday.
In separate remarks, Hungary’s Orbán, a close ally of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, also said it would be “unthinkable” for Ukraine to join the EU as Brussels had promised to Kyiv.
In a leaked letter to the EU’s European Council President António Costa, seen by Worthy News, Orbán stressed that Hungary, as an EU member, would block a statement on supporting Ukraine militarily and naming Russia the aggressor.
“In view of the first draft conclusions circulated on 27 February and the discussions in [the committee of representatives from all the EU’s 27 member states, known as] COREPER the following day, it has become evident that there are strategic differences in our approach to Ukraine that cannot be bridged by drafting or communication,” he wrote in the letter dated Saturday, March 1, 2025.
“I am convinced that the European Union – following the example of the United States – should enter into direct discussions with Russia on a ceasefire and sustainable peace in Ukraine. This approach is not reconcilable with the one reflected in the draft conclusions,” he added.
“Therefore, I propose not to attempt adopting written conclusions on Ukraine at the special European Council.”
LIMITING CONCLUSIONS
Alternatively, he proposed “to limit written conclusions to recalling and supporting UN Security Council Resolution 2774 (2025) adopted on 24 February 2025.”
He referred to the United Nations Security Council adopted on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that takes a neutral position on the conflict as U.S. President Donald J. Trump seeks to broker an end to the war.
The resolution mourns the loss of life in the “Russia-Ukraine conflict,” reiterates the U.N.’s purpose to keep international peace and security and peacefully settle disputes, and urges a swift end to the armed conflict and lasting peace.
“The Resolution signals a new phase in the history of the conflict and renders all previous agreed language by the European Council irrelevant,” added Orbán. “An attempt to adopt written conclusion by the European Council on Ukraine would project an image of a divided European Union,” he said in the letter signed “Yours sincerely, ORBÁN Viktor.”
Orbán’s stance differs significantly from most other EU leaders, but he received backing from his ally Robert Fico of Slovakia. “If the summit does not respect that there are differing opinions beyond simply continuing the war, then the European Council may not reach an agreement on Thursday,” Fico wrote on social media platform X.
Orbán insists the EU must initiate direct negotiations with Russia over a ceasefire in Ukraine, following the U.S. approach. Fico wants EU leaders to declare “an immediate ceasefire,” regardless of whether agreements on lasting peace are made.
He also expressed support for U.S. President Donald J. Trump after his public altercation on Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was accused of being “disrespectful” to the United States.
STRONG MEN
“Strong men make peace, weak men make war,” Orbán wrote on social media platform X, adding that President Trump “stood bravely” for peace.
“Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr. President!” Orbán trumpeted on social media platform X.
He also told Hungarian state-run radio over the weekend that it was “unthinkable” that Ukraine could join the EU. Orbán stressed that he could not “give a single argument” as to why it would be in Hungary’s interest to justify Ukraine’s EU membership.
“And I can provide lots of arguments against Ukraine’s accession,” he said, adding that Ukrainian membership would “ruin us” as it threatens “domestic agriculture and the Hungarian economy as a whole.”
The Hungarian leader expressed concern about crime, which he added would “flow into Hungary” due to Ukraine joining the 27-nation EU.
Orbán has had a tense relationship with Brussels as billions of dollars in EU funding remains frozen amid rule of law concerns and other perceived non-democratic policies.
(With additional reporting by the Worthy News Europe Bureau in Budapest.)
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