Polish FM Sikorski: Hungary Stalling Ukraine’s EU Accession Negotiations

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stated that Hungary is obstructing the start of Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations. He made the remark to journalists in Brussels on March 17, during a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, as reported by Onet.

“As the presidency, we feel a special responsibility for this [launching Ukraine’s membership talks]. We would, of course, like to open one or even two negotiation clusters, but unfortunately, our long-time friend and former ally—Hungary—is blocking the decision,” Sikorski said.

He emphasized that the council engaged in a “lively discussion” on the principle that the decision to begin negotiations should be based on meeting the required criteria rather than on bilateral disputes.

“I must formally appeal to the Polish opposition, which maintains close ideological ties with the government and party of [Hungarian Prime Minister] Viktor Orbán, and ask them to do something good for Poland and Europe—convince their ideological allies to lift this blockade,” Sikorski added.

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On March 7, Orbán announced on his social media account X that he planned to put “the question of Ukraine’s EU membership to a vote in Hungary, and the Hungarian people will have their say.”

A day earlier, on March 6, Orbán blocked an EU communiqué in which the bloc reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

Previously, it was reported that Hungary, which in January threatened to veto the extension of European Union sanctions against Russia, has reversed its position after a conversation between Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to Politico on March 17.