Latest news with #Voks2025
Russia Today
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
EU state blocks accession talks with Ukraine
Hungary has vetoed a joint EU statement on Ukraine at the bloc's Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, effectively blocking Kiev's accession talks, according to a communique published on Thursday on the European Council's website. The statement, which urged the council to open membership negotiations with Ukraine, was 'firmly supported by 26 heads of state' out of 27 EU members, the document read. As unanimous approval is required, talks cannot begin until Hungary reverses its stance. The communique noted that the council will revisit the issue at its next meeting in October. While the document did not name Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban confirmed the veto in comments to reporters. 'We stopped Ukraine's EU accession with the votes of Voks2025, and I needed it, because I was almost swept away by the public anger when I announced that Hungary would not agree to start negotiations with Ukraine,' Orban said, referencing the national referendum which concluded on June 20. More than 2 million Hungarians, or 95% of voters, rejected Ukraine's EU bid, according to the prime minister. 'I had to remind [the council] that the most important criterion [for accession] is that there is in fact a country,' he said. 'There must be a defined identity, borders, a population, a territory, and in the case of Ukraine, none of these apply.' Ukraine made EU accession a national priority in 2019, formally applying in 2022 shortly after the escalation of its conflict with Russia. The EU granted Kiev candidate status later that year and set a 2030 target for membership. While Brussels supports the move, critics argue that Ukraine's institutions and economy are unprepared, and the cost would strain the bloc. Budapest opposes EU membership for Ukraine, warning it could escalate tensions with Russia and burden EU taxpayers with decades of military aid. Alongside Hungary, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Polish officials have raised concerns. A recent IBRiS poll shows only 35% of Poles support Ukraine's EU bid, down from 85% in 2022. Moscow strongly opposes Ukraine joining NATO, but had previously taken a neutral stance on its EU ambitions, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying in March that Ukraine has the 'sovereign right' to join if the bloc remains focused on economics. However, with Brussels ramping up defense spending, Russian officials have recently grown critical. Peskov earlier this week called EU militarization 'rabid,' while former President Dmitry Medvedev said the bloc has become 'no less of a threat' to Russia than NATO. 'This is a politicized, globalist, and fiercely Russophobic organization,' Medvedev wrote on Telegram on Wednesday. 'Thus, the so-called 'Ukraine in the EU' is a danger to our country.'
Russia Today
26-06-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
95% of Hungarians oppose Ukraine joining EU
An overwhelming majority of Hungarians oppose Ukraine's accession to the EU, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced, citing the results of the Voks 2025 referendum. The consultative vote, which asked a single question – 'Do you support Ukraine's European Union membership?' – ran from mid-April to June 20. According to Orban, 2,168,431 Hungarians, or 95% of those who voted, rejected Ukraine's EU aspirations. '95% of the votes cast were 'no' and 5% answered 'yes'… I will say today, in the voice of more than two million Hungarians, that Hungary does not support Ukraine's accession to the EU. These are the bare facts,' Orban told reporters ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Thursday. He emphasized that Hungary's position cannot be bypassed, as Ukraine's membership requires unanimous consent from all 27 EU member states. 'A unanimous decision is needed even to launch negotiations on the matter. We don't have it, therefore they should not happen. Nothing can happen today that has a legal effect on the matter of Ukraine's EU membership… because Hungary does not support it,' Orban stressed. Ukraine made EU accession its national goal back in 2019 and officially applied to join the bloc in 2022, shortly after hostilities with Russia escalated. The EU granted Kiev candidate status in June 2022 and set a target date for 2030. Critics argue Ukraine's economy and institutions are unprepared, and that membership would place an unbearable financial strain on the bloc. Even Poland, one of Kiev's key backers, has shown declining support for Ukraine's bid. A recent IBRiS poll commissioned by Defence24 outlet found only 35% of Poles support Ukraine joining the EU – down from 85% in 2022. Hungary has consistently opposed Ukraine's integration into both the EU and NATO, warning that it could heighten tensions with Russia. Orban argued the move could lead to an 'endless war' in Europe, forcing EU taxpayers to fund Ukraine's army. His adviser Balazs Orban previously estimated that Kiev's full integration would cost the bloc around €2.5 trillion ($2.9 trillion), more than 12 times the EU's current budget. Moscow has firmly opposed Ukraine's bid to join NATO but has taken a more neutral stance on its EU ambitions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov previously said Ukraine has the 'sovereign right' to join the bloc if it remains focused on economic ties rather than military alignment. However, Russian officials have warned the EU's civilian-military distinction has been fading. Peskov recently described the EU's new military spending plans as 'rabid militarization,' while Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the bloc 'has degraded into an openly militarized entity.'
Budapest Times
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Budapest Times
Orbán: 'If the EU starts down a path, they will push through, and anyone who stands in the way gets thrown off the track'
Speaking on Kossuth Rádió, he described the issue as one of historic importance. He linked the timing of Ukraine's potential membership to the loss of vital EU agricultural subsidies and the arrival of mass Ukrainian labor, which he argued would overwhelm Hungarian farmers and depress local wages. 'If Ukraine is admitted into the EU, then the majority of land-based subsidies will be lost, or may not even exist anymore,' the prime minister said. 'Hungarian farmers will not be able to compete with Ukrainian grain,' he warned. According to Prime Minister Orbán, the accession would also result in a significant labor influx. 'Several hundred thousand people will arrive, and this will significantly depress wages in Hungary.' Beyond economics, the prime minister stressed the political and strategic implications. He urged citizens to participate in Voks 2025, the national consultation on EU issues, emphasizing that the results would define Hungary's mandate at the upcoming EU summit. 'When I speak on behalf of Hungary [in Brussels], it is not irrelevant whether I represent the government's or the people's position,' he said. 'That's why the result of Voks 2025 matters.' The prime minister drew a sharp contrast between Hungary's stance and that of most EU members. 'There are two kinds of political forces in Europe: national forces, and those who support migration and Ukraine's EU accession,' he said. 'Today, the majority supports transferring more powers to Brussels, supports migration, and supports Ukraine's accession,' he added, describing the pressure on Hungary as immense. Prime Minister Orbán also issued a warning about ongoing attempts to shift EU decision-making from unanimity to qualified majority voting. 'If the EU switches to qualified majority voting, Hungarian foreign policy will be decided by Brussels bureaucrats,' he said. 'This would mean the end of the thousand-year-old Hungarian state.' In response to EU criticism over Hungary's economic measures, Prime Minister Orbán defended the government's interventionist policies. 'If the interest rate cap were to be lifted, 300,000 families would be in a very difficult situation immediately,' he said. 'Of those, 28,000 families would be on the street.' He stressed that the cap would remain until the central bank could reduce interest rates. Regarding the retail margin cap, he argued that lifting it 'would increase prices by 20 percent.' He explained, 'When the world is this crazy, the Hungarian government must intervene—especially to protect families.' The prime minister also announced significant new support measures. 'From July, people will see progress,' he said, pointing to a 50 percent increase in the child tax allowance. 'In October, mothers with three children will begin to receive full income tax exemption,' and efforts are underway to boost wages for municipal workers in towns of up to 30,000 people. Despite geopolitical instability and EU tensions, Prime Minister Orbán ended with a resolute message: 'There may be a war, but I will fight tooth and nail to achieve these goals.' He described the 2026 budget as 'the budget of will,' asserting, 'There are goals that are important to Hungarian families and to the government. These goals must be achieved.'
Budapest Times
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Budapest Times
Gulyás: There are no plans for a fuel price cap, but action must be taken if necessary
'There are no plans for a fuel price cap at this time, hopefully the conflict will be resolved quickly,' the minister said, referring to rising fuel prices caused by escalating tensions in the Middle East. Gulyás noted that the government closely analyzes whether market interventions are necessary. While such measures are not desirable, they can become unavoidable under certain conditions. If prices remain persistently high, the government is prepared to initiate discussions with MOL on a potential price cap. On the subject of the Voks 2025 national consultation, Gulyás confirmed it will close at midnight on Friday. The outcome will significantly influence Hungary's position at next week's EU summit. With over two million participants, the minister emphasized that the consultation provides a clear democratic mandate for the government. Turning to economic matters, Gulyás sharply criticized recent proposals from the European Commission, such as scrapping the utility cost reduction program and lifting the interest rate cap. He stated these measures go against Hungary's national interest. The minister reaffirmed that the government will maintain its protective policies, including the interest rate cap, which will be extended beyond June 30 and currently benefits more than 250,000 families. Beyond fuel prices and economic policies, Gulyás stressed that the government remains firm on issues of national sovereignty. He accused Brussels of seeking to restrict member state competencies, particularly in relation to bans on Russian energy imports and challenges to Hungary's retail markup caps. He stated that Hungary's priority is not multinational profits but the interests of domestic workers and businesses. Responding to press inquiries, Gulyás announced that the Prime Minister's Cabinet Office will file a legal complaint concerning a video falsely claiming that no elections would be held in Hungary next year. He also reiterated that all public demonstrations, including the Pride event, fall under Hungary's Assembly Act and must be properly registered, with the police having the authority to prohibit them. In closing, Gulyás reaffirmed Hungary's commitment to remaining a member of the European Union, but made clear that the government will not accept EU decisions that conflict with Hungary's national interest.
Budapest Times
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Budapest Times
Orbán: We don't want the war to become our war
In an interview on Kossuth Rádió, Prime Minister Orbán emphasized the significance of this vote, calling it a 'huge success' and declaring that 'now begins the final push,' with eight days remaining for people to participate. He reiterated that admitting Ukraine to the EU equates to importing war into the bloc, warning that Europe is already 'deeply involved' in the conflict. 'We don't want the Russian-Ukrainian war to become our war,' he said, underscoring Hungary's consistent position that the conflict should have been isolated from the beginning. Instead, Western leaders opted to confront Russia in Ukraine, which, he argued, allowed the war to expand and entrenched Ukraine in dependency on foreign aid. The prime minister criticized the plan to finance Ukraine's EU integration through massive new loans, describing it as a path toward financial ruin at the EU level. He further noted that the Ukrainian president had attempted to intimidate Hungary. 'We acknowledge Ukraine's heroic resistance,' he said, 'but Hungary will not kneel. We are not impressed by President Zelensky's statements.' Addressing internal political dynamics, Prime Minister Orbán remarked that opposition parties such as DK and Tisza have supported Ukraine's EU bid, but this does not justify Zelensky's tone. In contrast, the Voks 2025 consultation reflects a national-level decision-making process, not driven by party politics but by public will. 'There are forces supporting Ukraine, and others standing for Hungarian national interests — people should decide in this light,' he said. Looking ahead, the prime minister warned of a critical two-week period of international negotiations. He identified a proposed EU embargo on Russian energy imports as a major threat, stating that it would multiply Hungary's energy costs. 'If they succeed, Hungary will have to pay two to three times more for energy,' he said, vowing to block the decision in order to preserve utility cost reductions. In response to new country-specific recommendations from Brussels, the prime minister said Hungary would not implement measures that impose excessive burdens on citizens, such as abolishing housing subsidies or ending price controls. He accused Brussels of attempting to strip member states of their powers and described an ongoing struggle over national competencies. 'They want to tell us how to live in our own countries,' he stated. Prime Minister Orbán also emphasized the importance of preserving Hungary's rural communities. Through the Hungarian Village Program, municipalities will now have tools to maintain the character of their towns. 'No part of the country should become depopulated,' he said. Reflecting on the broader political landscape, he described the rise of the European Patriots movement as a positive development for reclaiming national authority. 'Political strength comes from convincing the people,' he noted. With growing support, he expressed confidence that more patriot-led governments will emerge across Europe in the coming years.
