Diplomats from Europe agree on discussions concerning Ukraine, with a solitary dissenting voice among them.
The European Union, along with various political bodies, reaffirmed their support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in a joint statement signed by the Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees from 22 European countries, the European Parliament, and the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament.
The statement underscores the European Union's belief in Ukraine's inherent right to choose its own destiny and continued support for Ukraine on its path towards EU membership. It emphasises that the future of Ukraine can only be determined by the Ukrainian people themselves, upholding the principle that 'nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine'.
The joint statement also warns against Russia exploiting negotiations as a pretext to avoid an unconditional ceasefire and push for sanctions relief. It calls for continued financial, economic, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support from the European Union, the US, and other partners.
However, Hungary did not associate itself with this EU statement. Hungary's government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, argued that the EU had been sidelined in the negotiations and rejected the conditions set by the statement for talks in which the EU leaders were not invited. Orbán instead called for the EU to initiate its own summit with Russia to seek peace, reflecting Hungary’s broader stance against EU military aid to Ukraine and skepticism about Ukraine’s accession to the EU due to economic and security concerns.
The full text of the joint statement is available in English. It also reiterates that any agreement reached at the talks in Alaska or later must uphold Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, constitution, and principles of the UN Charter. Additionally, the European Union is ready to contribute further to security guarantees for Ukraine based on their respective competences and capabilities.
This decision by Hungary to abstain from the joint statement is rooted in its disagreement with the EU’s diplomatic framing, its opposition to continued EU military backing for Ukraine, and a desire for a distinct negotiation process involving Russia that it perceives as more balanced.
[1] Source: Hungarian poll results opposing Ukraine's EU accession (Source not provided) [2] Source: Hungary's explicit dissociation from the EU consensus (Source not provided) [3] Source: Orbán's closer ties to Russia and former US President Trump (Source not provided) [4] Source: Hungary’s distinct diplomatic position within the EU on the Ukraine conflict (Source not provided) [5] Source: Hungary’s opposition to EU military aid to Ukraine and concerns about Ukraine’s accession to the EU (Source not provided)
- The European Union's policy and legislation regarding war-and-conflicts, as evident in the joint statement on Ukraine, emphasizes the importance of maintaining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries, reaffirming their belief in the right of nations to choose their own destiny.
- General news about the EU's diplomatic dynamics reveals that Hungary, despite being a part of the EU, has dissociated itself on several occasions, such as the joint statement on Ukraine, due to its disagreement with certain EU policies and its preference for a distinct negotiating process with Russia.
