Visiting kyiv this Tuesday to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Commission president, Ursula von der Leyenand the head of the European Council, Antonio Costahave come up empty-handed. Budapest has not only vetoed credit to kyiv but also the twentieth package of sanctions against the Kremlin.
In a joint press conference with Volodímir Zelenski, both Von der Leyen and Costa have wielded for the first time the threat of retaliation against Hungary if Orbán does not immediately lift his veto on aid that Ukraine needs, at the latest, before April.
“The behavior of Member States within the Union is governed by a fundamental principle: that of loyal cooperation. When the European Council adopts a decision, all Member States must cooperate to implement it. No one can stop, block or attempt to block a decision of the European Council. Only the European Council itself can modify a decision adopted by itself,” Costa explained.
In fact, the president of the European Council wrote to Orbán this Monday to “point out that Hungary is violating the principle of loyal cooperation” and demand that it “immediately cooperate in the implementation of the decision adopted by the European Council on December 18” on the loan of 90 billion to Ukraine.
“In the meantime, I have invited the Commission to use all the tools provided for in the Treaties to overcome this situation, prevent anyone from blackmailing the European Union and ensure the implementation of the European Council decision. And we have instruments in the Treaties to do so,” said Costa, without clarifying what specific punishment measures he is thinking about.
Hungary justifies the blockade by accusing Ukraine of Prevent the transit of cheap Russian oil through the Druzhba pipelinealthough it has been the Kremlin’s drones that have attacked and damaged the infrastructure. Community leaders reply that Budapest has sufficient reserves and supply alternatives through Croatia or Ukraine itself.
But far from being intimidated, Orbán has responded to Costa’s letter in a defiant tone. “The facts are the facts. There are no technical obstacles to restarting the shipment of oil through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary. It only requires a political decision on the part of Ukraine,” maintains the Hungarian prime minister.
“As you know, I am one of the most disciplined and coherent members of the European Council. I fully understand your concerns. But you will also see the absurdity of the situation: we have adopted a decision financially favorable to Ukraine that I personally disapprove; “then Ukraine causes an energy emergency, and now you ask me to pretend that nothing is happening,” Orbán writes to Costa.
“That is not possible. I am not in a position to support any decision favorable to Ukraine until they return to normal,” concludes the Hungarian prime minister.
“The loan was approved by 27 heads of State and Government in the Council of Europe. They gave their word, and the word given cannot be broken. So we will move forward with the loan, one way or another,” Von der Leyen said at her press conference in kyiv.
“Let me be very clear: we have different options and we will use them,” stressed the President of the Commission.
In reality, Brussels has few instruments left to pressure Víctor Orbán, since it has already frozen the vast majority of European funds for putting the survival of the rule of law in Hungary at risk.
The Baltic countries propose to press the ‘nuclear button’ against Hungary: take the sanctioning procedure of the article 7 of the Treatywhich would deprive Orbán of his voting rights in the EU. Without being clear, the interventions this Tuesday by Costa and Von der Leyen seem to go in that direction.
At the press conference in kyiv, Volodymyr Zelensky once again asked the EU to allow Ukraine to join the community club on an accelerated basis in 2027. The president claims that it is the only way to prevent Vladimir Putin could slow down accession in the future.
“They do not see Ukraine as an independent country, nor do they see us as part of the European family. That is why they will do it, without a doubt. But we are prepared for the fast track. We are prepared to move forward on the fast track, to undertake reforms,” Zelensky said.
However, The president of the Commission has avoided giving any date and has said that everything will depend on how quickly kyiv undertakes the reforms demanded by the EU.
“I perfectly understand that a specific date is also important to you. The date you set is your reference, the goal you want to achieve. You know that, for our part, dates alone are not possible. But, of course, our support so that you can achieve your goal is absolutely clear,” answers Von der Leyen.