On January 30, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban once again warned that Ukraine's integration poses a "serious problem" for Europe even without conflict.
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| Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban calls for caution with Ukraine integration. (Source: Bloomberg) |
AFP quoted Prime Minister Orban's interview with French weekly Le Point , stating that recent protests by farmers across Europe show that "Ukraine is a serious problem for Europe, regardless of whether there is war or not."
European farmers have been angered by rising production costs and environmental regulations, as well as what they see as unfair competition from Ukrainian grain and chicken.
Calling for “extreme caution because Ukraine is a large country”, Mr Orban said closer ties “would have a huge and damaging impact on European economies, especially in the agricultural sector”.
But the only EU leader to maintain close ties with the Kremlin after Russia launched its military campaign in Kiev confirmed he was ready to soften his stance on the bloc's aid package to Ukraine if Budapest's conditions were met.
Accordingly, Hungary is ready to participate in the EU solution if it is guaranteed the right to decide whether to send that amount or not, and at the same time, the annual decision must have the same legal basis as this time, which is to reach consensus across the bloc.
Prime Minister Orban has vetoed 50 billion euros ($54 billion) in EU aid to Kiev over four years, which will also be on the agenda at an extraordinary summit of EU leaders on February 1.
Previously, the Financial Times reported that the EU would destroy the Hungarian economy if Budapest blocked the bailout package at the meeting on February 1, by targeting the member's economic weaknesses, impacting the domestic currency and causing a collapse of investor confidence to harm jobs and growth.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a face-to-face meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in an effort to mend ties and find a solution to tensions. The two countries' foreign ministers held talks in Ukraine on February 29 to try to lay the groundwork for such an effort.
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