Blocking Ukraine's EU path would send worst possible signal - Metsola
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola (Getty Images)
The question of Ukraine's accession to the European Union is supported by 26 of the bloc's 27 member states. Only Hungary is opposed, and if the negotiating cluster cannot be opened, it will send a bad signal, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said, according to the EU's website.
Metsola noted that the conclusions adopted by the 26 countries demonstrate unity on the issue of Ukraine's accession to the European Union. The European Parliament also supports this position and will insist on the approval of the negotiation cluster with Ukraine.
"We would ask also for flexibility in terms of how you deal with the steps that need to be taken. But if the so-called Fundamentals Cluster can be agreed, so why not move? I think the worst message that we could send to a country that is under daily bombing by its neighbour," added the President of the European Parliament.
Orban blocks Ukraine's EU accession
The pro-Russian leadership of Hungary has repeatedly stated that it does not support Ukraine's membership in the EU. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has vowed time and again to do everything in his power to prevent it, saying that otherwise his "conscience won't allow it."
Orbán continually comes up with new pretexts to block Ukraine's accession. Most recently, he declared that Russia's war on Ukraine should be the reason for denying Kyiv EU membership.
Fortunately, Orbán is increasingly at odds with other EU leaders. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has hinted that the consensus rule should not be abused, while Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin called Orbán's stance on Ukraine "regrettable."
Within the EU, voices are growing louder in favor of reforming the bloc's voting rules on critical issues. The alternative would be to suspend Hungary's and Slovakia's voting rights until their governments change.
For more on why Hungary is blocking the start of Ukraine's EU accession talks, read the article on RBC-Ukraine.
