Orban believes there’s no grounds for starting EU accession talks with Ukraine

Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, believes that Ukraine hasn't met the conditions necessary to start EU membership negotiations. 

There are no grounds to make such a decision during today's European Council meeting, Orban stated before the two-day European Council session in Brussels on December 14, Rubryka reports, citing Ukrinform.

"EU enlargement is not a theoretical issue. It's a process based on achievements, a very detailed process with prerequisites. We've set seven conditions, and even according to the European Commission's assessment, three out of seven haven't been fulfilled. So, there's no reason to discuss negotiations with Ukraine at the moment," said the Hungarian prime minister.

He emphasized that these prerequisites were set not by Hungary but by the European Commission.

"Three out of seven points are not fulfilled. According to my assessment, it may be even more. But this is enough to say, guys, if you haven't met these prerequisites, there's no chance to start negotiations," said Orban.

He also mentioned that there was currently no reason to discuss long-term funding for Ukraine because short-term financing was already provided in the existing EU budget.

"If you want to provide long-term and larger contributions, they should be made outside the budget, and we support that. Money for Ukraine is readily available because, in the short term, this money is already in the budget, so no additional decisions are needed," said Orban.

Responding to a question about Hungary receiving €10 billion from the European Commission, he noted that "Hungary doesn't trade principles" and doesn't link any Hungarian issues to Ukrainian problems.

As Rubryka reported, before the start of the EU summit, where the official launch of negotiations with Ukraine will be discussed, the leaders of France, Germany, and the European Council met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

During a brief conversation with the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, President Volodymyr Zelensky asked him to name at least one reason why Ukraine should not be in the European Union.

On December 14 and 15, EU leaders meet in Brussels to make decisions on providing €50 billion in economic support to Kyiv, €20 billion for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and starting negotiations on the country's accession to the bloc.

However, they will need to convince Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who threatens to veto these proposals.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba predicts that the discussion about whether to open negotiations with Ukraine or not will continue literally "until the last minute" of the summit.