Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban could block all EU assistance for Kiev and its possible accession to the bloc until EU leaders reconsider their strategy of support for Ukraine, media reported on Wednesday, citing Orban's letter.
"The European Council should take stock of the implementation and effectiveness of our current policies towards Ukraine including various assistance programs […] The European Council is not in a position to make key decisions on the proposed security guarantees or additional financial support for Ukraine, endorse further strengthening of the EU sanctions regime or agree on the future of the enlargement process unless a consensus on our future strategy towards Ukraine is found," the letter, addressed to European Council President Charles Michel, said.
Orban reportedly suggested deferring these decisions until the EU summit in Brussels in mid-December.
Although the letter does not explicitly say that Hungary could obstruct aid to Ukraine or its EU accession talks, media reported that Budapest could resort to its veto power.
On October 26, the prime minister's political adviser, Balazs Orban, said that EU countries should develop a new strategy in the Ukrainian conflict before providing funds to Kiev. On November 9, the prime minister's chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, said that some major EU countries share Hungary's stance on the need to review the strategy.
Western countries, including the EU, ramped up their financial and military support for Kiev after Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. They also responded by imposing comprehensive sanctions against Moscow.