Reports from inside European Union leadership indicate that a plan has been mapped out that would punish Victor Orban's regime in Hungary if he vetoes aid to Ukraine. Orban has also been the sole hold out against the accession of Sweden to NATO, and has voiced friendship with Russian thug and war criminal Vladimir Putin. According to Reuters:
"Brussels has outlined a strategy to explicitly target Hungary's economic weaknesses, imperil its currency and drive a collapse in investor confidence in a bid to hurt 'jobs and growth' if Budapest refuses to lift its veto on the aid to Kyiv, the newspaper reported, citing a document drawn up by EU officials.
Notorious for many bitter feuds with the EU during his 13 years in power, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has become a vocal critic of the bloc's support for Ukraine and boasted about his ties with the Kremlin since Russia went to war in Ukraine in February 2022.
The document seen by FT declares that 'in the case of no agreement in the February 1 [summit], other heads of state and government would publicly declare that in the light of the unconstructive behaviour of the Hungarian PM . . . they cannot imagine that' EU funds would be provided to Budapest." (our emphasis)
Orban's Hungary has to make up its mind whether it wants to be in the orbit of a declining, imperial Russia, with its territorial ambitions aimed at eastern Europe, or whether it wants to be aligned with the West. Orban may find that to be a difficult choice, but the European Union should make it easier for him with pressure on his economy.
(photo: Putin reaching for a hug with Orban. Alexander Zemlianichenko, AP / pool)
