Hungary's PM says Ukraine still 'light years' away from EU

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (Photo: Reuters).

Speaking at a meeting of the Fidesz party on November 18, Hungarian Prime Minister Orban announced that his government would oppose discussions scheduled for mid-December on whether to formally invite Ukraine to begin negotiations to join the EU.

Our task will be to correct the false promise to start negotiations with Ukraine, because Ukraine is still light years away from the EU," Mr Orban said.

Mr Orban has just been re-elected as chairman of the Fidesz party for the 11th consecutive term since 2003. He has declared that opposing Ukraine's accession to the EU will be one of his administration's top priorities in the coming months.

Earlier this month, the EU’s executive committee proposed to launch accession talks with Ukraine after noting Kiev’s progress toward meeting the EU’s goals. Talks can only begin with the agreement of all 27 members.

However, Hungary believes that it should not negotiate with a country in a state of war. Prime Minister Orban also argued that admitting Ukraine at this time would reorient the 27-member EU's system of distributing funds to member states.

Mr Orban also warned that he would oppose an EU plan to provide an aid package worth nearly $53 billion to Ukraine over four years.

Hungary is a member of the EU and NATO but has maintained a neutral stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, refusing to provide weapons or military equipment to Ukraine after fighting broke out in February 2022.

Last month, Prime Minister Orban's government said it would not support Ukraine on any international issues until the linguistic rights of ethnic Hungarians living in southwestern Ukraine were restored.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/thu-tuong-hungary-noi-ukraine-van-cach-xa-eu-nhieu-nam-anh-sang-20231119090812262.htm