Negotiations on Ukrainian membership in the European Union should not move forward, with the war-torn country “in no way ready” to join the bloc, Hungary’s premier said.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s remarks came on Friday, two days after Brussels recommended the opening of membership talks. The comments suggest that Budapest could block any formal invitation to Kyiv at a meeting in mid-December at which EU leaders are set to decide.
Unanimity among all member states is required to admit a new country into the bloc, giving Orban a powerful veto. Under the pro-Russian leader, Hungary has often complicated EU efforts to support Ukraine amid Moscow’s invasion, although Orban has eventually nodded to all military and sanctions packages.
The EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, on Wednesday recommended that Ukraine should be permitted to open membership talks, once it has addressed some shortfalls.
Speaking on his weekly morning slot on state radio, Orban said Ukraine is in no state to join the world’s largest trading bloc.
“Ukraine is in no way ready to negotiate on its ambitions to join the European Union,” Orban said. “The clear Hungarian position is that the negotiations must not begin.”
Post from www.aljazeera.com