EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced that Hungary will no longer host the upcoming EU foreign and defense ministers’ meetings due to its position on the war in Ukraine. These informal meetings are held every six months, each time under a new council presidency, to discuss major global issues. The next meeting will be held in Brussels instead of Budapest in late August. Borrell stated that the decision came after nearly all EU foreign ministers expressed their criticism and dissatisfaction with Hungary’s stance on the war in Ukraine at Monday’s meeting.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Viktor Orban faced significant criticism for his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The meeting was part of Orban’s “peace mission,” during which he also visited leaders in China, Ukraine, and US presidential candidate Donald Trump. Hungary’s “rogue” diplomacy was criticized by EU leaders. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen described Orban’s trip as “nothing but an appeasement mission.” Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson expressed that Orban’s actions send the wrong message to the public and insult the Ukrainian people’s struggle for freedom. Finnish Prime Minister Orpo remarked that Orban had no authorization to negotiate on behalf of the EU.
This is one of several conflicts Hungary has had with the EU over Ukraine, ultimately resulting in Hungary losing the opportunity to host the meeting. After securing his fourth consecutive re-election in April 2022, Orban stated that Ukrainian President Zelensky is among the people he has to “battle.” Last year, he repeatedly vetoed a €50 billion non-military financial aid package for Ukraine. Furthermore, Orban accused the EU of pursuing pro-war policies, which infuriated EU leaders. Borrell responded, saying only Putin is pro-war, as his precondition for any ceasefire is Ukraine’s partition.
Another factor intensifying the conflict is Ukraine’s partial ban on Russian oil exports. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU has prohibited imports of Russian oil arriving by sea to the bloc but has permitted landlocked countries such as Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic to continue purchasing Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline until an alternative solution is found to reduce their reliance on Russian oil. Last month, Kiev imposed sanctions to block the transit of crude oil sold to Central Europe by Lukoil, one of Russia’s largest oil companies. This raised concerns about energy shortages in Hungary, as the country relies on Lukoil for nearly 50% of its oil imports. Ukraine’s action has also sparked backlash in Slovakia, another country that is heavily dependent on Russia for its oil supply and the only EU country to back Hungary in the dispute with the EU. Hungary and Slovakia jointly asked the EU to take action against the ban, arguing that it jeopardizes their energy supplies and warned that they will take the matter to an international court unless the European Commission comes up with a solution. Hungary has threatened to continue vetoing the €6.5 billion military aid package for Ukraine from the European Peace Facility (EPF) until Kyiv allows the Lukoil transit. Chernyshov, the head of the Ukrainian state energy company Naftogaz, stated that despite the suspension of the Lukoil transit, the total volume of energy products being transited remains stable. He characterized the complaints from Hungary and Slovakia as “a political issue” rather than a matter of energy supply.
Given these disputes, Hungary’s loss of the opportunity to host the meeting is not unexpected. Hungary’s foreign minister described the EU move as completely childish; however, he stated that they are still willing to attend the Brussels meeting. Borrell assured reporters that Hungary is not being boycotted and is permitted to participate in the upcoming meeting.