The ongoing friction between Hungary and Ukraine over Kiev’s aspirations to join the European Union has once again come to the forefront, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban firmly reminding Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky that Ukraine’s accession cannot happen without Budapest’s approval. The clash reflects deeper underlying tensions about the future of EU expansion and the political realities facing Ukraine’s ambitions.

The latest war of words began on May 2, when Orban publicly warned that Ukraine’s admission into the European bloc would be a disaster for Hungary’s economy. Speaking bluntly, he characterized Kiev’s potential accession as a “collective economic trap,” suggesting that Hungarian taxpayers would be forced to shoulder a disproportionate burden for Ukraine’s recovery and integration.

Orban did not mince words about the EU’s current trajectory either. He criticized European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s reiterated goal of admitting Ukraine by 2030, warning that this timeline was not a distant future matter but an immediate concern. “We know when they want to bring them in. It’s not some vague future; it’s here, knocking at our door,” Orban said. “Forget the fairy tales about when and how. They want to do it now, as fast as possible.”

Zelensky, clearly irked by Orban’s remarks, responded by claiming that the Hungarian people themselves largely support Ukraine’s EU aspirations. Speaking at a press event, Zelensky asserted that “70% support Ukraine joining........

© Blitz