Hungary's Veto Puts Ukraine's EU Dreams in Limbo

Before the conflict between Israel and Hamas dominated global attention, the Russian invasion of Ukraine posed as the most urgent crisis diplomats sought to address.

This week in Brussels, a pivotal moment for Ukraine's integration into Europe was anticipated, with EU member states convening for their year-end council summit. The agenda included approving additional funding for Kyiv and initiating negotiations on Ukrainian membership in the EU.

However, Hungary, led by the populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, emerged as a disruptive force. Orban, long considered Western Europe's problematic figure, has a history of challenging EU decisions, even before the Ukraine conflict. Key decisions in Brussels require unanimous approval from all 27 member states, effectively providing each member with a veto power that can be wielded to block significant EU policies.

While vetoes are theoretically meant for addressing genuine objections, they have increasingly been exploited by political leaders to pursue unrelated agendas. Orban, for instance, has often used Hungary's veto to secure the release of EU funds withheld by Brussels due to concerns about rule of law violations or disregard for fundamental rights, especially related to the LGBT+ community.

This week, EU diplomats and officials found themselves negotiating the release of frozen funds, primarily due to corruption and rule of law issues. While a resolution is likely, the incident adds to the growing concern about Ukraine fatigue, especially among Ukrainian and Western officials closely collaborating with Kyiv.

A senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed to CNN that any hesitation from European allies sends negative signals, linking Ukraine's EU aspirations directly to NATO membership. This, the adviser argued, could embolden Russia to persist in its actions.

A senior NATO official working with Ukraine echoed this sentiment, characterizing it as part of a broader trend towards the West losing focus on Ukraine, potentially leading to unfavorable outcomes.

Further evidence of this trend can be seen in ongoing debates in Washington regarding funding for Ukraine, with concerns about the issue intensifying in the approaching presidential election year. In a world of zero-sum political gains, what is detrimental to Ukraine becomes advantageous for Russia, a fact not lost on Russian officials.

While the EU is expected to conclude the week with positive statements and financial support for Ukraine, there is an underlying worry that Western allies, even in Europe, are losing interest in what was once a top priority. If even Europeans are showing signs of fatigue regarding a land war on their continent, it raises questions about how the rest of the world perceives the situation.