The populist prime ministers of Slovakia and Hungary have threatened to block a joint European Union declaration on Ukraine during next week’s summit, calling for a change in the bloc’s strategy on the Ukraine war.
EU leaders will gather for an extraordinary summit on Thursday to discuss additional support for Ukraine, European security guarantees, and funding for European defense.
According to the latest draft statement prepared for the summit, member states were to confirm that there cannot be any negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine, and that any peace agreement for Kyiv must be accompanied by “robust and credible security guarantees” for the country.
The draft also specifies that all assistance to Ukraine, including military aid, will be provided “with full respect for the security and defense policies of certain member states” while considering the interests of all EU nations.
EU leaders are expected to adopt these conclusions at the summit in Brussels.
However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Slovakian counterpart Robert Fico have threatened to block the joint declaration.
In a letter to European Council President António Costa on Saturday, Orbán wrote: “It has become clear that there are strategic differences in our approach to Ukraine that cannot be bridged.”
According to the latest draft statement prepared for the summit, member states were to confirm that there cannot be any negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine, and that any peace agreement for Kyiv must be accompanied by “robust and credible security guarantees” for the country.
The draft also specifies that all assistance to Ukraine, including military aid, will be provided “with full respect for the security and defense policies of certain member states” while considering the interests of all EU nations.
EU leaders are expected to adopt these conclusions at the summit in Brussels.
However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Slovakian counterpart Robert Fico have threatened to block the joint declaration.
In a letter to European Council President António Costa on Saturday, Orbán wrote: “It has become clear that there are strategic differences in our approach to Ukraine that cannot be bridged.”
Direct talks with Russia
He argued that the EU should follow the U.S. lead and launch direct talks with Russia regarding a ceasefire and “sustainable peace” in Ukraine, adding: “This approach is not reconcilable with the one reflected in the draft conclusions.”
He suggested limiting the written conclusions to endorsing the UN Security Council resolution adopted on February 24.
This U.S.-sponsored resolution on the war in Ukraine does not name Russia as the aggressor, does not condemn the Russian invasion, refers to the conflict as the “Russo-Ukrainian war,” and calls for a lasting end to the conflict.
“The Resolution signals a new phase in the history of the conflict and renders all previous agreed language by the European Council irrelevant,” Orbán wrote, adding that attempts to adopt previously drafted conclusions on Ukraine would only highlight divisions within the EU.
“Therefore, I propose not to attempt adopting written conclusions on Ukraine,” Orbán said, alluding to the fact that decisions at EU summits need to be taken unanimously.
He suggested limiting the written conclusions to endorsing the UN Security Council resolution adopted on February 24.
This U.S.-sponsored resolution on the war in Ukraine does not name Russia as the aggressor, does not condemn the Russian invasion, refers to the conflict as the “Russo-Ukrainian war,” and calls for a lasting end to the conflict.
“The Resolution signals a new phase in the history of the conflict and renders all previous agreed language by the European Council irrelevant,” Orbán wrote, adding that attempts to adopt previously drafted conclusions on Ukraine would only highlight divisions within the EU.
“Therefore, I propose not to attempt adopting written conclusions on Ukraine,” Orbán said, alluding to the fact that decisions at EU summits need to be taken unanimously.
Fico calls for an immediate ceasefire
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has echoed Orbán’s stance, saying his country has reservations about the EU’s “peace through strength” strategy, which he argued is only prolonging the war in Ukraine.
He wrote on social media platform X on Saturday: “Ukraine will never be strong enough to negotiate from a position of military power.”
Fico said that Slovakia will not support Ukraine either financially or militarily but will respect the decisions of other EU states that choose to do so.
Regarding the EU summit conclusions, Fico said: “Slovakia proposes, among other things, the necessity of an immediate ceasefire (regardless of the moment a final peace agreement is reached) which [Ukrainian] President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy and a large number of EU member states reject.”
He also demanded that the conclusions contain a clear provision on the restoration of gas transit through Ukraine to Slovakia and Western Europe.
“If the summit does not respect that there are other opinions besides simply continuing the war, the European Council may not be able to agree on conclusions regarding Ukraine on Thursday,” he added.
The Slovakian and Hungarian leaders are accused of pursuing Moscow-friendly policies despite their countries being members of both the EU and NATO.
He wrote on social media platform X on Saturday: “Ukraine will never be strong enough to negotiate from a position of military power.”
Fico said that Slovakia will not support Ukraine either financially or militarily but will respect the decisions of other EU states that choose to do so.
Regarding the EU summit conclusions, Fico said: “Slovakia proposes, among other things, the necessity of an immediate ceasefire (regardless of the moment a final peace agreement is reached) which [Ukrainian] President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy and a large number of EU member states reject.”
He also demanded that the conclusions contain a clear provision on the restoration of gas transit through Ukraine to Slovakia and Western Europe.
“If the summit does not respect that there are other opinions besides simply continuing the war, the European Council may not be able to agree on conclusions regarding Ukraine on Thursday,” he added.
Fico and Orbán have been openly critical of the EU’s military aid to Ukraine and its sanctions on Russia, and have supported Trump’s stance that a peace settlement is the only viable path to ending the war in Ukraine.REGARDING YESTERDAY’S TRUMP – ZELENSKY MEETING pic.twitter.com/T9C4aHdXDh
— Robert Fico 🇸🇰 (@RobertFicoSVK) March 1, 2025
The Slovakian and Hungarian leaders are accused of pursuing Moscow-friendly policies despite their countries being members of both the EU and NATO.
More In Politics MORE...
