European Council President Michel visits Orban before EU summit after Budapest's demands on Ukraine

European Council President Charles Michel has arrived in Budapest for consultations with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on the upcoming EU summit, where important decisions on Ukraine are expected. He announced this himself on Monday in the social network X, UNN reports.

Michel emphasized the strength of EU unity in anticipation of the talks.

In Budapest for consultations on the preparation of the European Council with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. EU unity requires constant efforts, and this is our main strength

As a reminder,

Politico reported that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatened to block all EU aid to Ukraine, as well as the country's future accession to the bloc, unless EU leaders agree to revise their entire strategy of supporting Kyiv.

The European Union on November 23 approved an advance payment of 900 million euros ($1 billion) to Hungary from its still-frozen share of recovery funds, as the bloc tries to override Budapest's veto of aid to Ukraine.

EU officials told Reuters last month that the bloc was considering providing aid to Hungary to gain Budapest's support for Ukraine. More recently, however, sources involved in the preparations for the December 14-15 summit of EU leaders to discuss Ukraine expressed growing skepticism that Orban could be influenced.