Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has threatened to veto a joint statement by EU leaders in support of Ukraine following the upcoming European Council summit on 6 March. His Slovak counterpart, Robert Fico, has similarly issued ultimatums concerning the meeting, demanding changes to the EU’s approach to Ukraine and energy security.
According to a letter dated 1 March and addressed to European Council President António Costa, Orbán outlined what he described as “strategic disagreements” with the EU’s stance on Ukraine. The Hungarian leader argued that such differences “cannot be resolved through amendments or communications.”
Orbán asserted that the EU should follow the example of the United States and engage in direct negotiations with Russia on a ceasefire and a sustainable peace agreement in Ukraine. He claimed that this approach was fundamentally incompatible with the draft communiqué prepared for the summit.
“For this reason, I propose that we do not attempt to adopt a joint written statement on Ukraine in its current form, as this would highlight divisions within the EU,” Orbán wrote.
Instead, the Hungarian prime minister suggested that any written conclusions from the summit should be limited to referencing and endorsing UN Security Council Resolution 2774 (2025), which was adopted on 24 February. This resolution, introduced by the United States, does not mention Russian aggression and, according to Orbán, marks “a new phase in the history of the conflict,” rendering previous European Council statements outdated.
Orbán’s stance follows his public endorsement of US President Donald Trump after a recent dispute between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington. Meanwhile, EU leaders and senior officials in Brussels have reaffirmed their support for Ukraine ahead of the summit.
Slovakia’s Ultimatums
Echoing Orbán’s position, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in a Facebook post has also issued demands ahead of the summit, warning that he may block its conclusions if they do not address his concerns.
Fico has insisted that the EU formally commit to the resumption of Russian gas transit through Ukraine, arguing that continued energy flows are essential for Slovakia and Western Europe. He also reiterated his position that Slovakia will not provide financial or military assistance to Ukraine to prolong the war, stating that Kyiv “will never be strong enough to negotiate from a position of military strength.”
In addition to energy security, Fico has called for the summit’s conclusions to include an explicit demand for an “immediate ceasefire, regardless of when a final peace agreement is reached.”
“If the summit does not respect the fact that there are perspectives other than prolonging the war, the European Council may fail to reach a consensus on its conclusions regarding Ukraine on Thursday,” Fico warned.
EU Response
The threats from Orbán and Fico come at a time when the EU is seeking to solidify its strategic approach to Ukraine and European security. The European Council’s agenda for 6 March includes discussions on defence policy and Ukraine’s long-term security guarantees.
European Council President António Costa has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to participate in the meeting. Media reports suggest that the draft conclusions of the summit emphasise the need for “reliable security guarantees” for Ukraine in any potential peace negotiations.
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