Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov was reported as saying on Thursday, November 9, 2023, that Russia does not believe the European Union’s promises to admit Ukraine are “real.”
Speaking to Kremlin reporter, Pavel Zarubin, Peskov noted, “Most likely we are talking about a carrot that is tied in front of the cart.”
This came after Hungary disclosed that it does not want the European Union to begin membership talks with Ukraine.
Instead, it should offer some form of “privileged partnership” for the country, the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s chief of staff told a briefing on Thursday.
European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, announced on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, that the commission recommends that the European Council open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.
As such, EU leaders are expected to decide next month whether to accept the European Commission’s recommendation to invite Kyiv to begin membership talks as soon as it meets final conditions, including boosting safeguards for minorities.
The decision will require unanimous support among all 27 states.
The commission’s recommendation is an important milestone on Kyiv’s road to western integration, but any such decision requires unanimity of the bloc’s 27 members, with Hungary seen as the main potential obstacle.
Budapest has said it would not support Ukraine’s European integration unless Kyiv changes its laws on minorities, in particular regarding education.
Hungary has clashed with Kyiv over what it says are curbs on the rights of roughly 150,000 ethnic Hungarians to use their native tongue.
Orbán said last month that the EU’s strategy on the war had failed and that he saw no reason for Hungary to send its taxpayers’ money to support Ukraine.
Stefanishyna Voices Ukraine’s Ability To Overcome Hungary’s Opposition
Kyiv’s minister for European integration, Olga Stefanishyna, was reported as saying that Ukraine will be able to overcome Hungary’s political opposition to it beginning talks on EU membership.
She admitted that bringing Hungary on side over the next month would be a challenge, but that she was confident Ukraine would succeed.
At a news briefing in Kyiv, Olga Stefanishyna, the minister overseeing Ukraine’s European integration, said that the Hungarian minority in Ukraine were adequately protected.
Stefanishyna added that Ukrainian and Hungarian officials were working together on legislative changes recommended by Brussels.
“Any country that makes a conscious political decision, first and foremost, to block the decision regarding Ukraine will find a reason,” she said.
“Today, Hungary has made such a statement,” Stefanishyna said.
She added, “We understand that there is a such a statement, but we also understand there is a dialogue with Budapest.”
