Orban’s visit to Kyiv: playing on a foreign field or a diplomatic breakthrough?
2 July 2024 11:53
EXCLUSIVE
For the first time in many years, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has arrived in Kyiv, reports "Komersant Ukrainian"
Neither the Ukrainian nor Hungarian sides have yet officially announced the nature and purpose of the visit of the politician, who has the most anti-Ukrainian views among all the leaders of the EU member states.
As political analyst Yevhen Magda suggested in an exclusive commentary to Kommersant Ukrainian
, Orban’s visit has a double meaning.
On the one hand, it is a demonstration of Hungary’s responsibility as the new head of the European Union.
“Orban is showing that he is the EU’s presidency and is not afraid of difficult issues,”
– magda notes.
On the other hand, the Hungarian prime minister may be trying to get some political dividends and advance his interests, in particular, to resolve the issue of the so-called “Orban’s 11 points”.
The expert emphasises that the situation is not easy for Ukraine.
“On the one hand, Orban is more active, but on the other hand, as the EU presidency, he has to act under certain obligations, certain political decency,”
– explains Magda.
The expert used a football metaphor to describe Orban’s visit:
“Orban has come to play a match on a foreign field and, in football terms, to score at least a point.”
However, Magda expressed hope that the Hungarian prime minister would not succeed in achieving his goals. He stressed the need for active action by the Ukrainian leadership to defend national interests.
Hungary vs Ukraine
Orban’s visit to Kyiv takes place against the backdrop of complicated Ukrainian-Hungarian relations and at the beginning of Hungary’s EU presidency. He is expected to hold talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior officials. The outcome of these meetings is likely to have a significant impact on future relations between the two countries and on Hungary’s position on Ukraine in the context of European integration.
Among other things, Hungary is delaying the adoption of legislation that would allow Ukraine to receive up to €2 billion from the EU for weapons at the expense of profits from frozen Russian assets.
After a lengthy debate, EU member states agreed in May to use the proceeds of about €190 billion of frozen Russian assets held in the Belgian depository Euroclear to buy weapons for Ukraine. However, Hungary opposed this, refusing to provide unanimous EU support for each payment to Ukraine. At the same time, Hungary does not seem to object in general, but has concerns about the automation of payments.
The situation is complicated by the fact that Hungary took over the EU presidency for six months on 1 July, which will give it more influence, making it even harder for EU officials to convince it.
At the same time, Hungary will not block NATO’s decisions on Ukraine, but it will not support them either.
Meanwhile, the EU is looking for a new strategy: how to help Ukraine without Hungary’s consent.
