Viktor Orbán Explains His Decision Not to Sign the EU Support Declaration for Ukraine
A critical moment on the eve of historic meetings between international leaders once again highlighted the European Union’s internal debate over unity and commitment to supporting Ukraine.
While global political figures focus on negotiations between the United States and Russia, Hungary led by Viktor Orbán has adopted a distinctive stance by refusing to sign a joint declaration recently agreed upon by nearly all EU member states.
This decision sparked widespread discussions and cast doubt on the unity of the union when it comes to supporting the Ukrainian nation.
In a Facebook post, Orbán explicitly outlined his reasons for declining to sign the document.
According to him, one of the main motives is the EU’s attempt to set unilateral conditions for future negotiations, which Kyiv was not invited to participate in.
Orbán emphasizes that amid Hungary and other EU countries remaining on the sidelines, there is a need to reconsider approaches and initiate new diplomatic channels, including convening an EU-Russia summit similar to the US-Russia talks.
The declaration, supported by almost all EU countries, states that international borders should not be changed by force and that the Ukrainian people have the right to determine their own future.
It also affirms that the EU, in coordination with the US and other allies supporting Ukraine, will continue providing comprehensive assistance — political, financial, military, humanitarian, and diplomatic — to help Ukraine turn this crisis into an opportunity for rebuilding and stabilizing the country.
Nevertheless, the current situation reveals that some politicians oppose active support for Ukraine and attempt to manipulate public opinion against Kiev’s swift integration into European structures.
Orbán employs various tactics—ranging from pseudo-surveys to formal polls—to cast doubts on the viability of Ukraine’s quick accession to the EU.
Experts believe that the Ukrainian government must now develop a united stance and seek new diplomatic efforts to attract allies and partners to strengthen support and prevent isolation on the international stage.