Hungary doubles down on opposition to Ukraine’s EU accession as Zelenskyy aims for 2027 – Europe live

EU plans to admit Ukraine by 2027 to give it access to next EU budget, Hungary's Orbán claimsBut just as Volodymyr Zelenskyy doubles down on his 2027 accession target, so is Hungary’s Viktor Orbán in opposing the move.In clips published by Hungary’s international spokesperson Zoltán Kovács, Orbán has claimed that during the last EU summit the leaders were given a document describing Brussels plans to admit Ukraine in 2027.“They want to admit Ukraine in 2027. This is because they want to give Ukraine money from the budget, the seven-year European budget starting in 2028. This means … it will be taken away from us, central Europeans,” he said.“So there is a limit[ed time] to bring Ukraine into the EU before the start of the next seven-year budget,” he added.Orbán reiterated his opposition against Ukraine’s EU membership, saying Ukraine “cannot protect Europe from Russia,” and would not be strengthening Europe, but “dragging us into war.”“They money that we give or want to give to Ukraine should be used to develop and the armies and equipment of European countries. Our line of defence against Russia is not the Ukrainian-Russian border, but where the Nato border ends,” he said.He said Ukraine should be kept in between the two blocs for safety instead.As I said earlier (9:58), you need to read these comments in the context of the upcoming Hungarian election, where the issue of Ukraine will be one of the top issues – and Orbán’s Fidesz is currently trailing 10 percentage points behind the opposition Tisza party.The latest poll, conducted by Zavecz Research and published on news website Telex, showed that among decided voters Tisza had 49% support, up from 47% in November, while Fidesz polled 39%, up from 38% in November. The far-right Mi Hazank (Our Homeland) party was backed by 5% of decided voters.ShareUpdated at 13.38 CETKey events41m agoIncoming Dutch PM rules out talks with Putin as he pledges support for Ukraine2h agoOrbán ramps up his rhethoric on Ukraine for domestic purposes - snap analysis2h agoEU plans to admit Ukraine by 2027 to give it access to next EU budget, Hungary's Orbán claims3h agoZelenskyy confirms no strike on energy infrastructure, says Russia shifts to targeting logistics hubs4h agoNot supporting Ukraine now risks letting Russia expand its war in future, Zelenskyy warns4h agoZelenskyy spoke with Germany's Merz about Russian attacks, ceasefire talks4h agoTrump asked Putin to halt strikes on Kyiv until Sunday, Kremlin says5h ago'Let him come' to Kyiv, 'if he dares,' Zelenskyy says in response to Putin's suggestions of Moscow meeting5h agoRussia launched over 100 drones, but just one missile at Ukraine after Trump ceasefire comments5h agoTrilateral Ukraine, US, Russia talks could be postponed as US focused on Iran, Zelenskyy says6h agoMorning opening: Ukraine's Zelenskyy doubles down on 2027 target for EU accessionShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureIncoming Dutch PM rules out talks with Putin as he pledges support for UkraineSome EU leaders – not just the usually Russia-friendly Hungary’s Orbán and Slovakia’s Fico, but even France’s Macron and Italy’s Meloni – have been suggesting recently that the EU should consider seeking to reopen diplomatic channels with Russia to not let Donald Trump set the tone for talks with Moscow.Incoming Dutch prime minister, Rob Jetten – whose D66 party struck a minority coalition deal to form a government this week – said he was against any such move as he pledged his new government would continue to support Kyiv.The 38-year-old said he would not speak to Moscow as there were currently “no indications” Russia wanted to end the war in Ukraine.“And as long as the aggression continues, we will continue our support for the Ukrainian people,” he said in comments to AFP news agency.He also said that Europeans should have “a much stronger debate about what can Europe do for itself,” and stop looking at the US under Donald Trump.View image in fullscreenDemocrats 66 (D66) party leader Rob Jetten speaks to the media at the Dutch parliament last year. Photograph: Piroschka Van De Wouw/ReutersEarlier this week, EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas also said the EU should not “go to Russia [and say] talk to us.”She insisted the EU should work instead on “putting more pressure on Russia, so that they would go from pretending to negotiate to actually negotiate” with Ukraine.ShareUpdated at 15.04 CETOrbán ramps up his rhethoric on Ukraine for domestic purposes - snap analysisJakub KrupaLots of what Orbán says and will be saying on Ukraine in the coming weeks will be guided by his electoral calculations as he seeks to use the issue of Ukraine’s European future instrumentally for domestic reasons.Earlier this week, Orbán said Hungary would summon Ukraine’s ambassador over what he said were attempts to interfere in a Hungarian parliamentary election in April, in which the polls suggest he could lose power after 16 years in government.In fact, he was seemingly offended by Zelenskyy’s swipe at him during his recent Davos speech, in which the Ukrainian president warned against Europe allowing some capitals becoming “little Moscow” and urged EU leaders that “every ’Viktor’ who lives off European money while trying to sell out European interests deserves a smack upside the head.”Reuters noted that Orbán, who has kept close ties with Moscow, has intensified his anti-Ukraine campaign in the past weeks, and has sought to associate Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar with Kyiv and the EU executive in Brussels as the campaign heats up.A government-run website criticised Ukraine for “disgusting provocations” against Hungary, and accused it of showing no gratitude for the support received so far. It also dismissed Magyar’s opposition Tisza party as “Ukraine’s preferred Hungarian lackeys.”In a campaign primarily targeting rural voters, Orbán has portrayed Ukraine as unworthy of financial support, framing the April vote as a choice between war and peace and echoing his past anti-migrant campaigns, Reuters said.ShareEU plans to admit Ukraine by 2027 to give it access to next EU budget, Hungary's Orbán claimsBut just as Volodymyr Zelenskyy doubles down on his 2027 accession target, so is Hungary’s Viktor Orbán in opposing the move.In clips published by Hungary’s international spokesperson Zoltán Kovács, Orbán has claimed that during the last EU summit the leaders were given a document describing Brussels plans to admit Ukraine in 2027.“They want to admit Ukraine in 2027. This is because they want to give Ukraine money from the budget, the seven-year European budget starting in 2028. This means … it will be taken away from us, central Europeans,” he said.“So there is a limit[ed time] to bring Ukraine into the EU before the start of the next seven-year budget,” he added.Orbán reiterated his opposition against Ukraine’s EU membership, saying Ukraine “cannot protect Europe from Russia,” and would not be strengthening Europe, but “dragging us into war.”“They money that we give or want to give to Ukraine should be used to develop and the armies and equipment of European countries. Our line of defence against Russia is not the Ukrainian-Russian border, but where the Nato border ends,” he said.He said Ukraine should be kept in between the two blocs for safety instead.As I said earlier (9:58), you need to read these comments in the context of the upcoming Hungarian election, where the issue of Ukraine will be one of the top issues – and Orbán’s Fidesz is currently trailing 10 percentage points behind the opposition Tisza party.The latest poll, conducted by Zavecz Research and published on news website Telex, showed that among decided voters Tisza had 49% support, up from 47% in November, while Fidesz polled 39%, up from 38% in November. The far-right Mi Hazank (Our Homeland) party was backed by 5% of decided voters.ShareUpdated at 13.38 CETThe European Commission has just been asked about Zelenskyy’s comments on the 2027 EU accession target (9:58).The answer was pretty convoluted, but spokesperson Guillaume Mercier said that Ukraine “has made really steady progress” in the enlargement process, and it’s advancing “really well,” but didn’t address the 2027 point at all.ShareZelenskyy confirms no strike on energy infrastructure, says Russia shifts to targeting logistics hubsAnd in another update issued just now, Zelenskyy has just confirmed that there were no Russian strikes on energy infrastructure overnight, but he said that Moscow appeared to be shifting its attention to striking logistics infrastructure.He particularly highlighted a ballistic missile strike in the Kharkiv region, which hit a US company production site.On Kyiv, he said 376 residential buildings remained without heating (it’s minus 8 Celsius this afternoon), as energy recovery operations continue.ShareNot supporting Ukraine now risks letting Russia expand its war in future, Zelenskyy warnsSeparately, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy spoke with Czech public radio warning that a failure to help Ukraine carries a broader risk that Russia could extend its war to more countries in the future, posing direct threat to others in the region.Asked to respond to some voices critical of supporting Ukraine in the new Czech government, he said: “If we don’t help Ukraine and Ukraine falls, there is a risk that Russia will continue. Even if one doesn’t believe it completely, I don’t think it needs to be verified. The price is too high. … There is a huge risk for Europe, for any country, that Russian aggression will continue. And who else will endure what Ukraine has endured? Zelenskyy was also asked about the state of play in talks with Russia and the US, saying that some contentious issues – like territory – still need to be resolved.He also said that Ukraine was still working on security guarantees with the US and the EU, although they appeared to be close to being finalised.The Ukrainian president was also confronted with rumours suggesting that the US linked its security guarantees with Ukraine making concessions on the Donbas region.“I have heard about it in political circles, some politicians talked about it. But I have not heard about it directly from President Trump. And it is a security guarantee from him and the US Congress,” he said.But he added: “I understand that these security guarantees cost something. And the question is what is the price.” Zelenskyy also repeated his claim that Ukraine would be ready to join the EU in 2027 (9:58), but acknowledged that “It depends on whether the partners agree,” adding: “I cannot speak for them.”Separately, he also thanked Czechs for a recent emergency fundraiser for Ukraine, which raised almost €7m for energy, heat generators for Kyiv (Europe Live, Monday).ShareZelenskyy spoke with Germany's Merz about Russian attacks, ceasefire talksUkraine’s Zelenskyy also spoke by phone with German chancellor Friedrich Merz last night, according to the readout published by the German government.During their call, Merz “strongly condemned the ongoing, systematic, and brutal destruction of Ukrainian civilian energy infrastructure by Russian attacks,” the statement said, with Zelenskyy thanking Germany for its “winter aid package” to help with air defence and power, heat generation.“Both leaders welcomed the efforts to achieve a ceasefire. The chancellor reiterated Germany’s support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. The two leaders remain in close contact on this matter,” the readout stated.ShareTrump asked Putin to halt strikes on Kyiv until Sunday, Kremlin saysOh, we now have a confirmation from the Kremlin that Putin had received a “personal request” from Trump (10:37) to halt strikes on Kyiv until 1 February, this Sunday, “in order to create favourable conditions for negotiations.”Asked about the request and Russia’s response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined further comment.ShareUpdated at 11.32 CET'Let him come' to Kyiv, 'if he dares,' Zelenskyy says in response to Putin's suggestions of Moscow meetingSpeaking of talks, Volodymyr Zelenskyy doesn’t seem to be too keen on Vladimir Putin’s repeated and provocative suggestions that he could come to Moscow.In his comments to journalists this morning, reported by Ukrainska Pravda, Zelenskyy said: “It is absolutely impossible for me to meet with Putin in Moscow. That would be the same as meeting with Putin in Kyiv. I can just as well invite him to Kyiv – let him come. I am publicly inviting him, if he dares, of course.” But he insisted he was open to genuine peace talks at the leaders’ level. “I have always said that I am ready for any format aimed at ending the war that actually works. But in Moscow or in Belarus, this is simply impossible – and it is absolutely clear why: because one of these countries is the aggressor that started and is waging the war against us, killing us, while the other country is its partner in these actions.” Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said earlier that Zelenskyy was ready to meet with Putin to discuss the two main outstanding points, on the future of the Zaporizhzhia power plant and the potential territorial changes.ShareRussia launched over 100 drones, but just one missile at Ukraine after Trump ceasefire commentsSeparately, the Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched over 100 drones and just one missile at Ukraine overnight.On Thursday, US president Donald Trump has claimed that Vladimir Putin has agreed to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for one week after he issued a personal appeal to the Russian leader due to the extreme cold in Ukraine.Both Russia and Ukraine seemed surprised by Trump’s public announcement of the agreement. Zelenskyy later wrote that a ceasefire on power plants and other vital energy infrastructure had been discussed between the two sides and that he “expects the agreements to be implemented”.Ukraine’s state weather agency forecast a drastic dip in temperatures to as low as minus 30C in coming days as authorities race to restore power services.ShareTrilateral Ukraine, US, Russia talks could be postponed as US focused on Iran, Zelenskyy saysUkraine was meant to continue its trilateral talks with the US and Russia this weekend, but Zelenskyy hinted at a possible delay, as the US appears to be focused on Iran instead.“It is very important for us that everyone we agreed with be present at the meeting, because everyone is expecting feedback,” he said in comments reported by Reuters.“But the date or the location may change – because, in our view, something is happening in the situation between the United States and Iran. And those developments could likely affect the timing,” Zelenskyy said.US state secretary Marco Rubio had said earlier this week that president Donald Trump’s top envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who attended the previous round of talks, would not participate in the weekend meeting in Abu Dhabi.It was unclear in the talks could go ahead in another format.ShareMorning opening: Ukraine's Zelenskyy doubles down on 2027 target for EU accessionJakub KrupaUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy doubled down on suggestions that Ukraine would be “technically” ready to join the European Union in 2027, despite pushback from some European leaders this week suggesting that his insistence on a fast-tracked accession was unrealistic and even unnecessarily antagonising some in the bloc.View image in fullscreenUkraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, arrives for an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Belgium last year. Photograph: Omar Havana/APLuxembourg’s foreign minister, Xavier Bettel, insisted on Thursday that “we have rules and we need to respect them,” as he stressed that he repeatedly asked Zelenskyy to stop putting pressure on the EU on the timing as it was counterproductive.Even EU’s top official in charge of the enlargement, commissioner Marta Kos, hinted that while the political will was there, more might be needed (Europe Live, Thursday here and here).“Technically, we will be ready in 2027,” Zelenskyy told reporters, Reuters reported, adding that by the end of 2026 Ukraine will have implemented the main steps required for membership.I think the European Commission may have a slightly more nuanced view on that, given its last year’s progress report pointing to “some level of preparation” in many areas, with only limited progress on some of the key issues, such as fight against corruption, or insufficient capacity in some areas looked at by the EU.But Zelenskyy made it clear that primarily he primarily wanted to get “a clear timeline” to know what are the real prospects of joining the bloc, seeing it as an important part of security guarantees after the war as he is expected to continue trilateral talks with Russia and the US in the upcoming days.But remember: EU enlargement requires unanimous decision by the 27 member states, and Hungary not only has long opposed a fast-tracked accession of Ukraine, but the relations between the two countries have markedly worsened in the last few weeks.“95% of Hungarians have rejected Ukraine’s fast-tracked EU membership because they want to protect our farmers, the safety of our families, and peace in Hungary,” the country’s pro-Russian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, said yesterday.The issue is likely to feature prominently in the upcoming parliamentary election in Hungary, which could see a change of government after Orbán’s 16 years in power.Let’s see if we get more reactions from the EU on this today. I will bring you all the latest.It’s Friday, 30 January 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.Good morning.Share

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