Viktor Orbán says Ukraine is ‘in no way prepared’ for E.U. membership talks
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in an interview on Friday that Ukraine is “in no way prepared” to begin membership talks with the E.U.
“Ukraine is as far from E.U. membership as Makó is from Jerusalem,” the outlet HVG quoted Orbán as saying. Hungary’s “clear position,” he added, is that negotiations on Ukraine joining the bloc should not even begin.
The prime minister also noted that the E.U. “owes Hungary three, four, five billion euros,” and that the money’s transfer was suspended due to the E.U.’s objections to Budapest’s judicial reforms and its “fight against corruption.”
“I would like to emphasize very clearly that Hungary’s disagreement with the start of negotiations regarding Ukraine’s E.U. membership is not a subject for negotiations. It cannot be linked to any financial issues. What is owed must be paid,” he said.
