Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has responded to criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky while reiterating his opposition to Ukraine's rapid accession to the European Union. Orbán also harshly criticised the EU leadership and warned against efforts to curb member states' veto power.
Orbán responded to Zelensky's remarks made during the Munich Security Conference. There, the Ukrainian president said that the Hungarian prime minister „he's gaining a belly rather than building an army“. Orbán said on social media that he thanked Zelensky for his „election campaign“ in favour of Ukraine's accession to the EU, but at the same time stressed that the discussion is not about personal disputes, but about the future of Europe. According to him, this is why Ukraine cannot be a member of the EU.
The Hungarian government has long argued that a hasty acceptance of Ukraine could lead to a direct military confrontation with Russia, while damaging the European economy.
At the same time, Orbán defined himself against the EU institutions and warned member states against losing their sovereignty. In his traditional speech in Budapest, he said that the real danger to the freedom of member states comes not from the East but from Brussels. According to him, the EU leadership is trying to subjugate national governments.
The Hungarian prime minister also recalled that the administration of former US President Joe Biden had interfered in Hungary's internal affairs in a similar way to the current EU leadership.Orbán said the situation had changed after the return of President Donald Trump to office.
Orbán said that Hungary is now back in the political mainstream, but warned that „the repressive machinery of Brussels“ still works. As an example, he cited the alleged bribery of politicians, journalists and judges, and also mentioned the debates about European censorship, which he said had also emerged during hearings in the US Congress.
Another key theme of Orbán's speech was the preservation of the veto right in the EU. The prime minister stressed that Hungary would not give up this instrument despite pressure from Brussels. According to the ruling Fidesz-Hungarian Civic Union party, the EU is trying to weaken Budapest's veto in order to facilitate Ukraine's entry into the Union. The party also claims that Brussels is supporting the opposition in its efforts to change the country's political leadership.
Orbán warned that a possible opposition victory would lead to Hungary's inclusion in a common European foreign policy, which he said would threaten the country's independence. He stressed that Hungary's independent stance must be defended „like an eye in the head“ and that the right of veto will remain.
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