It is worrying that Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orban, seems set on dealing Ukraine a double whammy at this month’s EU council meeting. He has warned that he will veto plans for the EU to give Ukraine a green light on EU accession, along with EUR50bn in funding for the period 2024-27. Both would be critical blows to Ukraine’s ability to fund their continuing defence against Russian aggression and to ensure successful recovery and long term development - key to its and actually Europe’s defence against inevitable future Russian aggression.
It seems obvious Orban is a dictator wannabe and of course, like Trump, he gravitates to other dictators. I have no doubt that money is involved as well. However, Hungary 's Jobbik party has been handing out passports to Ukrainian citizens in Zakarpattia since the 1990s, although it's illegal in Ukraine to have dual citizenship. Yet the EU has turned a blind eye to that. If the Union doesn't start responding more seriously to Hungary's behavior (and Poland's to some extent), it will start falling apart on its own. When you tolerate loose cannons, be prepared for a deadly volley.
The EU released billions to Budapest iin late November! Maybe people who live near carnivores shouldn't throw bones?
All of the above! He is a dictator wannabe, he is corrupt and has already been mismanaging EU funds (stealing), he is in bed with Putin and he is power hungry. Either he needs to go or Hungary needs to be removed from the EU.
Thinking about Erodgan's predictable yet still tedious delaying factor to Swedish ascension to NATO, to me this is primarily an attempt to appear relevant. To bring the negotiation to him appeals directly to the cultivated image of strong man in charge whereas realpolitik around delaying Ukrainian short term pathway to post war reconstructive needs is more likely to mean concession deals away from the spotlight.
It seems obvious Orban is a dictator wannabe and of course, like Trump, he gravitates to other dictators. I have no doubt that money is involved as well. However, Hungary 's Jobbik party has been handing out passports to Ukrainian citizens in Zakarpattia since the 1990s, although it's illegal in Ukraine to have dual citizenship. Yet the EU has turned a blind eye to that. If the Union doesn't start responding more seriously to Hungary's behavior (and Poland's to some extent), it will start falling apart on its own. When you tolerate loose cannons, be prepared for a deadly volley.
The EU released billions to Budapest iin late November! Maybe people who live near carnivores shouldn't throw bones?
All of the above! He is a dictator wannabe, he is corrupt and has already been mismanaging EU funds (stealing), he is in bed with Putin and he is power hungry. Either he needs to go or Hungary needs to be removed from the EU.
Thinking about Erodgan's predictable yet still tedious delaying factor to Swedish ascension to NATO, to me this is primarily an attempt to appear relevant. To bring the negotiation to him appeals directly to the cultivated image of strong man in charge whereas realpolitik around delaying Ukrainian short term pathway to post war reconstructive needs is more likely to mean concession deals away from the spotlight.