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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban clashed during a European Union summit in Copenhagen on October 1, with Merz accusing Orban of disrupting discussions on the bloc’s security needs. The exchange centered on how the EU can enhance its defense against Russian aggression and provide support to Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on October 2.
This confrontation is the latest instance of EU frustration with Orban, who has repeatedly used his veto to block sanctions against Russia and opposes Ukraine’s EU membership bid. The disagreement shows the ongoing struggle within the EU to unify on defense strategies, particularly as Russia has repeatedly violated European airspace in recent months.
Polish PM Donald Tusk and Viktor Orban also clashed over Russia, Ukraine, and European security. Tusk criticized Orban for downplaying Russia’s threat and highlighted NATO's shared responsibility to defend the Eastern Flank. Orban, focusing on economic issues, downplayed Russia’s role as Europe’s primary threat, emphasizing economic stagnation and loss of competitiveness as greater dangers to Europe. He argued that Europe collectively is stronger than Russia, citing population and GDP comparisons, APT news reported on October 2.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the urgency of responding to the growing drone threats facing Europe. “Every European citizen and every square centimeter in Europe has to be safe,” she stated.
The EU leaders agreed to revisit the security issue in two weeks at another summit in Brussels, where the European Commission is expected to present a roadmap for strengthening EU defenses by 2030. Heads of state, including Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, will join the discussion on military needs at the expanded summit on Thursday, according to Bloomberg.
Previously, it was reported that Ukrainian forces have recorded violations of the country’s airspace by reconnaissance drones that may have been Hungarian, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
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