Hungary seeks to weaken EU summit text on military support for Ukraine
Hungary again insists on shortening the "Ukraine" section and removing references to continued military support and "peace from a position of strength." It proposes to consider these changes during the discussion of the draft conclusions of the European Council on March 20-21.
This was stated by a European diplomat involved in the work on the text of the EU leaders' summit conclusions, on condition of anonymity, European Pravda reports.
According to the media outlet, the EU diplomat emphasized that Hungary, as during the preparation of the conclusions of the extraordinary EU "security" summit on March 6, demands a shorter text that omits any mention of the European Union's military support for Ukraine.
"Hungary asks for a very brief section on Ukraine that only mentions the EU's support for current peace efforts," the source said.
At the same time, other member states want a stronger text emphasizing the EU's continued support for Ukraine, including military assistance, and the importance of achieving "peace from a position of strength."
It is worth noting that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has presented 12 demands to the European Union and continues to oppose Ukraine's membership.
In a post titled "What the Hungarian people demand from Brussels," Orbán outlined the following demands:
- We demand a Europe of nations;
- We demand equality before the law for all member states;
- Return the powers illegally taken from nations;
- Ensure national sovereignty and a strong veto right for national governments;
- Expel "Soros agents" from the European Commission and remove corrupt lobbyists from the European Parliament;
- Do not mortgage the future of our grandchildren—liquidate the Union's debts;
- Allow our National Guard to protect our borders and expel illegal migrants;
- Prevent corrupt dollars and euros from influencing member states;
- Prohibit the unnatural re-education of our children;
- Protect the Christian heritage of Europe;
- We are in Europe;
- The Union—but without Ukraine.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Hungary is the only country blocking Ukraine's accession to the EU.
"Neither the United States nor the members of the European Union, who also know about it, are against it. Everyone supports it, except for one country. This country is Hungary," Zelensky said.
However, he expressed his belief that when the final decision is made, the Hungarian authorities "will look at the policy of the United States."
The draft conclusions of the European Council will be discussed by the ministers for European affairs of the European Union states on Tuesday, March 18, during a meeting of the General Affairs Council of the EU.
The leaders of the EU member states are expected to approve the document at the European Council meeting on March 20-21.
