Hungary's stance irritates everyone in EU - Polish foreign minister
Radoslaw Sikorski, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland (Getty Images)
Hungary appears increasingly isolated within the European Union. Budapest's stance is irritating other members of the political union, according to Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski.
As the head of the ministry explained, during the last meeting of the EU Council on Foreign Affairs, Hungary did not receive support for its position.
"What is more, they (Hungarians - ed.) appear isolated when it is they who are asking for solidarity from Europe on the issue of oil supplies. They do not receive this solidarity because it is difficult to win friends if someone exudes selfishness," said the Polish Foreign Minister.
According to Sikorski, the EU Council meeting also raised the question of where one of the Foreign Ministers' meetings during the Hungarian presidency would be held: in Budapest or Brussels. The Polish minister, in turn, proposed holding the meeting in Ukraine as a compromise.
"I proposed as a compromise that it be held in Ukraine – either Lviv or even Mukachevo – which, at first, was met with enthusiasm by the Hungarian Foreign Minister. And let me remind you that the precedent was already set two years ago when this council meeting was held in Kyiv," Sikorski explained.
Hungary's EU presidency
From July 1 to December 31, 2024, Hungary will chair the Council of the European Union. This presidency has drawn attention due to the political actions of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
At the beginning of July, the head of the Hungarian government visited Kyiv, where he proposed that Ukraine ceasefire before starting peace negotiations with Russia. Following this, Orbán held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and later visited China to meet with Xi Jinping.
EU country ambassadors condemned Orbán for his "peace mission." Members of the European Parliament have also called for Hungary to be stripped of its veto power over such actions.
