Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban attends the European Union leaders summit, in Brussels, Belgium October 26, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights
BUDAPEST, Dec 1 (Reuters) – The European Union should first sign a strategic partnership agreement with Ukraine instead of starting membership talks with the country, Hungary’s Viktor Orban said on Friday, flagging a way to a possible compromise ahead of a crucial EU summit.
The 27 national EU leaders are due to decide in mid-December on whether to accept the European Commission’s recommendation to invite Kyiv to begin membership talks as soon as it meets final conditions, even as it fights to repel Russia’s invasion.
Any such decision requires unanimity of the bloc’s 27 members, with Hungary seen as the main potential obstacle. The Hungarian prime minister has repeatedly said Hungary would not support the Commission’s proposal in its present form.
Orban reiterated on Friday that several issues would need to be cleared before membership talks could start with Ukraine, saying the country, making it impossible to assess what consequences Ukraine’s membership would have on the bloc.
“If we don’t know (what…
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