Latest news with #UkraineEU
Russia Today
15 hours ago
- Business
- Russia Today
95% of Hungarians oppose Ukraine joining EU
An overwhelming majority of Hungarians oppose Ukraine's accession to the EU, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced, citing the results of the Voks 2025 referendum. The consultative vote, which asked a single question – 'Do you support Ukraine's European Union membership?' – ran from mid-April to June 20. According to Orban, 2,168,431 Hungarians, or 95% of those who voted, rejected Ukraine's EU aspirations. '95% of the votes cast were 'no' and 5% answered 'yes'… I will say today, in the voice of more than two million Hungarians, that Hungary does not support Ukraine's accession to the EU. These are the bare facts,' Orban told reporters ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Thursday. He emphasized that Hungary's position cannot be bypassed, as Ukraine's membership requires unanimous consent from all 27 EU member states. 'A unanimous decision is needed even to launch negotiations on the matter. We don't have it, therefore they should not happen. Nothing can happen today that has a legal effect on the matter of Ukraine's EU membership… because Hungary does not support it,' Orban stressed. Ukraine made EU accession its national goal back in 2019 and officially applied to join the bloc in 2022, shortly after hostilities with Russia escalated. The EU granted Kiev candidate status in June 2022 and set a target date for 2030. Critics argue Ukraine's economy and institutions are unprepared, and that membership would place an unbearable financial strain on the bloc. Even Poland, one of Kiev's key backers, has shown declining support for Ukraine's bid. A recent IBRiS poll commissioned by Defence24 outlet found only 35% of Poles support Ukraine joining the EU – down from 85% in 2022. Hungary has consistently opposed Ukraine's integration into both the EU and NATO, warning that it could heighten tensions with Russia. Orban argued the move could lead to an 'endless war' in Europe, forcing EU taxpayers to fund Ukraine's army. His adviser Balazs Orban previously estimated that Kiev's full integration would cost the bloc around €2.5 trillion ($2.9 trillion), more than 12 times the EU's current budget. Moscow has firmly opposed Ukraine's bid to join NATO but has taken a more neutral stance on its EU ambitions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov previously said Ukraine has the 'sovereign right' to join the bloc if it remains focused on economic ties rather than military alignment. However, Russian officials have warned the EU's civilian-military distinction has been fading. Peskov recently described the EU's new military spending plans as 'rabid militarization,' while Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the bloc 'has degraded into an openly militarized entity.'
Bloomberg
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Orban Touts Anti-Ukraine Survey to Boost His Flagging Campaign
Prime Minister Viktor Orban hailed the result of a government survey that showed Hungarians overwhelmingly against Ukraine's European Union accession, and which critics derided as propaganda aimed at reversing his fading popularity. Orban said 95% of Hungarians backed his opposition to Ukraine joining the EU in the government's 'national consultation.' The result followed a months-long information campaign vilifying President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, including on billboards put up across Hungary.
Russia Today
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukrainian membership of EU would drag bloc into war
Admitting Ukraine into the EU would only prolong the hostilities between Moscow and Kiev and risk dragging the bloc into the conflict, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned. Ukraine, which has made EU membership a national priority, formally applied to join the bloc in February 2022, days after the escalation of the conflict with Russia. Hungary has repeatedly pushed back against the EU's goal of admitting Ukraine by 2030 – a target recently reiterated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. On Monday, Orban reiterated Budapest's opposition to accession, calling it a decision that could shape the bloc's future for the worse. 'As a country neighboring Ukraine, we believe that if Ukraine is admitted to the European Union, it will mean war,' Orban told the conference of EU parliamentary speakers in Budapest. The EU has never accepted a country at war – and for 'good reason,' he added. The Hungarian leader also expressed regret over the commitment of some EU leaders to continued military aid for Kiev. 'We have a different view. We think the longer the war lasts, the more lives will be lost and the worse the situation will become on the battlefield,' Orban said. Ukraine still faces major hurdles on its path to joining the bloc, with full membership requiring unanimous EU approval and sweeping reforms, including anti-corruption efforts, improved governance, and legal alignment with EU standards. Orban has long opposed Ukraine's integration into Western institutions, including NATO, arguing that its accession could escalate tensions with Russia. He suggested that the country should instead remain a 'buffer' between Russia and the West. While Russia has consistently rejected the idea of Ukraine joining NATO, its position on EU accession has been more restrained. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said Ukraine has the 'sovereign right' to join the bloc, provided that it remains a matter of economic integration and not military alignment. However, Russian officials have warned that the line between civilian and military in the EU is becoming blurred. Peskov has accused the bloc of actively working to prolong the Ukraine conflict by repeatedly expressing its intention to support Kiev in its desire to 'continue the war.' He has also criticized Brussels for undermining peace efforts by portraying Russia as the bloc's primary adversary. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that the EU is 'becoming militarized at a record pace,' adding that there is now 'very little difference' between the EU and NATO.
Russia Today
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine's EU entry would drag bloc into war
Admitting Ukraine into the EU would only prolong the hostilities between Moscow and Kiev and risk dragging the bloc into the conflict, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned. Ukraine, which has made EU membership a national priority, formally applied to join the bloc in February 2022, days after the escalation of the conflict with Russia. Hungary has repeatedly pushed back against the EU's goal of admitting Ukraine by 2030 – a target recently reiterated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. On Monday, Orban reiterated Budapest's opposition to accession, calling it a decision that could shape the bloc's future for the worse. 'As a country neighboring Ukraine, we believe that if Ukraine is admitted to the European Union, it will mean war,' Orban told the conference of EU parliamentary speakers in Budapest. The EU has never accepted a country at war – and for 'good reason,' he added. The Hungarian leader also expressed regret over the commitment of some EU leaders to continued military aid for Kiev. 'We have a different view. We think the longer the war lasts, the more lives will be lost and the worse the situation will become on the battlefield,' Orban said. Ukraine still faces major hurdles on its path to joining the bloc, with full membership requiring unanimous EU approval and sweeping reforms, including anti-corruption efforts, improved governance, and legal alignment with EU standards. Orban has long opposed Ukraine's integration into Western institutions, including NATO, arguing that its accession could escalate tensions with Russia. He suggested that the country should instead remain a 'buffer' between Russia and the West. While Russia has consistently rejected the idea of Ukraine joining NATO, its position on EU accession has been more restrained. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said Ukraine has the 'sovereign right' to join the bloc, provided that it remains a matter of economic integration and not military alignment. However, Russian officials have warned that the line between civilian and military in the EU is becoming blurred. Peskov has accused the bloc of actively working to prolong the Ukraine conflict by repeatedly expressing its intention to support Kiev in its desire to 'continue the war.' He has also criticized Brussels for undermining peace efforts by portraying Russia as the bloc's primary adversary. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that the EU is 'becoming militarized at a record pace,' adding that there is now 'very little difference' between the EU and NATO.
