BRUSSELS: The European Union’s chief executive called on Wednesday for the bloc to support Ukraine as long as it takes, in remarks ahead of a key European leaders’ summit standing in sharp contrast with Hungary’s criticism of providing additional assistance to Kyiv.
Hungary has expressed opposition to granting Ukraine more financial aid and has threatened to veto plans to advance Kyiv’s EU membership bid at a summit of the bloc’s leaders in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.
Ukraine is eagerly anticipating a positive signal regarding its future in the European Union and crucial budgetary aid, considering the country’s increasing fatigue after nearly two years of fighting a war against a Russian invasion.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, addressing the European Parliament ahead of the leaders’ summit, emphasized the need to demonstrate steadfast support for Ukraine throughout the duration of the conflict. The Commission, under her leadership, has proposed that the summit make a decision this week to initiate EU membership talks with Ukraine once it fulfills the four outstanding conditions set earlier to advance its EU aspirations, with the suggested timeframe being March.
Von der Leyen highlighted that recent legislation passed by Ukraine, including measures addressing concerns raised by Hungary about national minorities, has resolved three of the remaining tasks. Only one task remains — the implementation of a new lobbying law to regulate the influence of oligarchs.
Despite efforts to navigate around Hungary’s opposition to a proposal providing Ukraine with 50 billion euros ($54 billion) in economic aid through 2027, it is crucial for Ukraine’s European aspirations to secure unanimous backing from all 27 EU member states. Hungary, under Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who boasts about his connections with Moscow at a time when the EU is working to isolate Russia for its actions against Ukraine, remains adamant, setting the stage for a showdown at the year’s final EU heads summit.
