"Press the brakes": Orbán stated that Hungary will be able to delay Ukraine's entry into the EU

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that Budapest will be able to suspend Ukraine's accession to the European Union later, if necessary. According to him, the EU's decision to start membership talks with Ukraine was allegedly "bad".

Orban made the statement on Hungarian state radio on December 15. In particular, he said that he left the hall before the vote because he did not want to support this decision.

Orban's absence during the vote was the only way to achieve the necessary unanimity among EU heads of state and government.

"This is a bad decision. Hungary is not responsible for this; we can suspend this process later, and if necessary, we will put on the brakes, and the final decision will be made by the Hungarian parliament," he threatened.

Orban also said that he vetoed the aid package for Ukraine to "make sure that Hungary receives the necessary funds from the EU budget" before EU leaders meet again in early 2024 to reconsider the issue.

"I've always said that if someone wants to change the budget - and they do - this is a great opportunity for Hungary to make it clear that it should get what it is entitled to. Not half or a quarter," the Hungarian prime minister said.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- On December 14, the leaders of the European Council decided to start negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on accession to the EU. Georgia was granted candidate status.

- Orban, who is called a friend of Russian President Putin, said at the very beginning of the European Council meeting that he would block both aid to Ukraine from the EU budget and the start of negotiations on accession to the EU. He said that Ukraine allegedly "does not deserve" this.

- The summit participants were united in opposing Orban's position, and he was forced to leave the session hall before the vote on Ukraine.

- Orban was "advised" to leave by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the media reported, citing sources. He told the Hungarian prime minister that if he did not want to agree, he could leave the meeting room so that EU leaders could make a unanimous decision without him. This proposal was agreed upon during previous discussions.

- Hungary has blocked the EU's decision to allocate 50 billion euros to Ukraine, and EU leaders plan to return to the discussion in January.

- European Council President Charles Michel assured that the EU intends to fulfill its promise.

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