Hungary undermines the EU unity principle, threatening to block further support for Ukraine in EU membership talks, said Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda ahead of the December 14-15 summit, where EU leaders will discuss Ukraine’s Eurointegration.
“Hungary damages the unity principle because, if we don’t get a positive response [regarding Ukraine – ed.], a positive conclusion, there will be more and more voices threatening and denying the unity principle,” Nausėda said.
Lithuanian President Nausėda sees Ukraine’s proximity to the EU as advantageous for Hungary. He expresses hope that the EU summit on December 14-15 won’t miss the chance to initiate official EU membership talks for Ukraine and Moldova and grant candidate status to Georgia.
“We will use all means to convince Hungary to change its mind,” emphasized Nausėda.
Estonian President Alar Karis emphasized the importance of signaling to Russia that Europe is united and Ukraine is part of Europe. Meanwhile, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs assured that compromises regarding Ukraine may take longer than expected but hopes necessary decisions will be made at the EU summit in Brussels and the NATO summit in Washington in 2024.
Recall that in November, Hungary’s Prime Minister Orbán reiterated that the opening of Ukraine’s EU accession talks was a mistake. At the same time, the Hungarian community in Ukraine appealed to Orbán to support Ukraine’s EU accession.
Cover: D. Umbrasas/LRT
