Summary of the day
Hungary’s Viktor Orbán reiterated his opposition to opening EU accession talks with Kyiv, but also hinted at an openness toward compromising on other issues.
In an interview with Le Point, the Hungarian prime minister insisted that Budapest opposes opening accession talks because Ukraine is not ready and due to the economic impact on the EU.
Orbán also called Ukraine “one of the most corrupt countries in the world”.
The European Commission is expected to soon release €10bn in withheld EU funds for Hungary, despite concern from some MEPs and civil society groups.
Belgium’s prime minister, Alexander De Croo, said the European Council chief, Charles Michel, and other EU leaders were “doing the necessary” things to ensure a “productive Council next week”.
The MEP Katalin Cseh, a member of Hungary’s Momentum party, said Orbán was “serving as the Russian Trojan horse at the European negotiating table”.
Zuzana Čaputová, Slovakia’s progressive president, said she would probably veto fast-track government plans to scrap a special prosecutor’s office and weaken whistleblower protection.
EU ministers agreed to support Nadia Calviño, Spain’s deputy prime minister, as the next president of the European Investment Bank.
A number of senior European figures have welcomed Armenia and Azerbaijan’s statement yesterday that they will move towards normalising relations and exchange prisoners.
Updated
Orbán is 'Russian Trojan horse', opposition politician says
Hungary’s opposition has criticised prime minister Viktor Orbán’s stance on Ukraine ahead of a key EU summit next week.
“Once again, Viktor Orbán is serving as the Russian Trojan horse at the European negotiating table, following Putin’s bidding and undermining the interests and unity of the EU,” said the MEP Katalin Cseh, a member of Hungary’s Momentum party.
She told the Guardian:
Ukrainians are bravely fighting and sacrificing their lives because they aspire to a European future. It is morally reprehensible for any EU leader to deny them this perspective, and Orbán stands as the sole leader doing so.
Updated
