Hungary's Orban Challenges EU Membership Talks with Ukraine
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's hostility towards Ukraine is causing panic among EU diplomats, as it threatens to derail the bloc's decision on bringing Ukraine into the EU and seal a key budget deal. Orbán, who has close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, is demanding a wholesale review of EU support for Kyiv, effectively holding the bloc hostage as it requires unanimous agreement on strategic decisions. EU leaders are concerned about the potential crisis and are attempting to find a compromise with Orbán, but there is growing frustration and fear that the EU's "nuclear option" of using Article 7 against Hungary could backfire and fuel populism. The EU is considering alternative options to work around a Hungarian veto, such as splitting the budget for Ukraine into smaller amounts or using bilateral deals for military aid. However, concerns are growing about EU political support for Ukraine, and there is a possibility of delaying key decisions until next year. Orbán's long game of undermining the EU from within is causing increasing worry in Brussels.