Reuters: Orban mentions next year's European elections, could signal months-long delay in starting membership talks with Ukraine
Kyiv • UNN
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban blocks Ukraine's EU accession talks, proposing to postpone them
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, speaking about the issue of Ukraine's EU accession talks, hinted that the bloc should wait for a new political consensus amid next year's European Parliament elections, which "may signal a delay" in the start of negotiations, Reuters reports, according to UNN.
Details
Orban, arriving at the EU summit, "made it clear that he will block negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU, strongly opposing the opinion of other EU leaders," the newspaper writes.
Orban reportedly mentioned next June's European Parliament elections, saying the bloc should "behave democratically" and wait for a new political consensus to emerge, potentially signaling a months-long delay in any start of talks on Ukraine.
"There is no reason to negotiate Ukraine's membership now," Orban said as he arrived at the summit in Brussels.
To recap
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban showed no signs of being ready to compromise on Ukraine's EU accession as he arrived at the summit on Thursday morning.
