Cracks are appearing in the European Union over the future military support the 27-strong bloc will provide to Ukraine. EU leaders gathered in Brussels on Thursday to decide on the bloc’s defence strategy and security measures for the wartorn country.
But not all the leaders of the member states agree on how Ukraine should be supported, with Hungary – a known thorn in the side of Brussels – already stating it won’t support the measures being discussed to help Kyiv. Hungary has advocated against integrating Ukraine into the European defence structures and, rather, seemingly wants to take advantage of its location to make it a buffer area between Europe and Russia.
Hungary’s European Affairs Minister Janos Boka told the Financial Times: « We do not see the security of Europe in the integration of Ukraine into defence systems, but we see the need for a buffer zone between Russia and European defence structures, which serves the interests of both Russia and Europe. »
Hungary has been vocal in opposing military assistance for Ukraine for months. During a special summit earlier this month, the country’s leader Viktor Orban blocked the approval of joint conclusions in support of the country, forcing Brussels to release an « extract » endorsed by 26 members.
More cracks in European support for Ukraine appeared earlier this week, as Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal didn’t welcome High Representative Kaja Kallas’s ambitious plan to mobilise billions to provide the country with further military support.
Speaking on Wednesday, Ms Kallas said countries far from Russia can’t see the threat it represents in the same way as those on the eastern flank of the bloc.
Despite the divisions over how Ukraine should be supported, the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, said: « We have supported Ukraine since the first day and we will continue to do so now, throughout future talks and especially at peacetime, when Ukraine will be a member of the EU. »
EU leaders gathered in Brussels will also hear from Volodymyr Zelensky, who is visiting Norway today. The Ukrainian president will brief the bloc’s chiefs on his recent one-hour call with US President Donald Trump.
While EU leaders are in Brussels, another meeting will take place later today in London between defence leaders part of the so-called « coalition of the willing » – a group of nations gathered by Sir Keir Starmer willing to support peacekeeping efforts in Ukraine.
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