Orbán Blocks Ukraine EU Bid, Deepens EU Standoff

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has rejected any moral obligation to support Ukraine’s EU accession, saying the EU’s unanimity rule gives Budapest a veto and refusing to be "blackmailed" into changing position. Budapest’s objections cite issues such as language rights for ethnic Hungarians, and EU officials visiting Kyiv say Ukraine still must complete major reforms — including safeguarding the independence of key watchdogs — before membership can proceed. Orbán has also ruled out adopting the euro, called the EU "falling apart," and accused Brussels and Kyiv of seeking to influence or depose his government, allegations that have been echoed by Russian intelligence and amplified by his foreign minister. The dispute has spilled into EU institutions, with contentious European Parliament immunity votes involving MEPs Ilaria Salis and Péter Magyar, and into security policy over arms, sanctions and Ukrainian strikes that have affected energy supplies to Hungary, intensifying a standoff between Budapest, Kyiv and other EU capitals.