Hungary’s government is “on Putin’s team” when it comes to attitudes to the war in Ukraine, according to Estonia’s foreign minister.
While most EU countries have offered resolute backing to the war-torn eastern nation, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has regularly condemned the bloc’s financial support for Kyiv and attempted to block sanctions on Russia.
Last week, Polish PM Donald Tusk said EU members cannot count on Budapest, telling French President Emmanuel Macron that Europe needs to forge a common policy towards Russia and President Vladimir Putin even if Orbán disagrees.
Speaking to Germany’s Rheinische Post on Saturday, Estonian minister Margus Tsahkna said the continent was not split on Ukraine – but that Hungary was simply isolated.
“To be divided, you would need two major parties. We have Hungary, a very weak country, that's on Putin's team. Not on our European team,” he said in an interview cited by the Kyiv Independent.
He added that a possible attempt to strip Hungary of its voting rights in the EU “is getting closer and closer”.
“Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union provides for the possibility of withdrawing a member state's voting rights if membership endangers the security of Europe and that of the other members... that's exactly what Orbán is doing," Tsahkna said.
According to the veteran Hungarian populist, the policy of continued EU support for Ukraine alongside increasing defense spending across the continent could “ruin Europe.”
Launching a policy platform on Hungary’s national day on March 15, Orbán listed a set of demands from the EU, including “peace in Europe” and “a union, but without Ukraine.”
Last week, Polish PM Donald Tusk said EU members cannot count on Budapest, telling French President Emmanuel Macron that Europe needs to forge a common policy towards Russia and President Vladimir Putin even if Orbán disagrees.
Speaking to Germany’s Rheinische Post on Saturday, Estonian minister Margus Tsahkna said the continent was not split on Ukraine – but that Hungary was simply isolated.
“To be divided, you would need two major parties. We have Hungary, a very weak country, that's on Putin's team. Not on our European team,” he said in an interview cited by the Kyiv Independent.
He added that a possible attempt to strip Hungary of its voting rights in the EU “is getting closer and closer”.
“Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union provides for the possibility of withdrawing a member state's voting rights if membership endangers the security of Europe and that of the other members... that's exactly what Orbán is doing," Tsahkna said.
According to the veteran Hungarian populist, the policy of continued EU support for Ukraine alongside increasing defense spending across the continent could “ruin Europe.”
Launching a policy platform on Hungary’s national day on March 15, Orbán listed a set of demands from the EU, including “peace in Europe” and “a union, but without Ukraine.”
More In Politics MORE...
