Europe EU cannot agree on common Ukraine position
The EU heads of state and government were unable to agree on a common position to support Ukraine at a summit in Brussels. According to participants, Hungary did not want to participate in a formulation supported by the other 26 states.
06.03.2025, 21:03
SDA
Crisis meeting after US U-turn
The 27 EU heads of state and government met in Brussels for a crisis meeting following the US's U-turn on foreign policy under President Donald Trump. Following the suspension of US military aid, EU support for Ukraine was to be reaffirmed in a joint declaration at the emergency meeting.
According to a draft of the summit's final declaration, the heads of government wanted to underline the EU's well-known positions, for example that there should be no negotiations without Ukraine and that Ukraine's territorial integrity must be respected.
However, Hungary's head of government and Trump friend Viktor Orban did not agree. In the end, only the other 26 EU states agreed to a declaration, the details of which were not initially available.
Even before the summit in Brussels, which included an exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Orban had made his blockade stance on support decisions clear. In a letter to EU Council President Antonio Costa, he wrote that there were "strategic differences in our approach to Ukraine". The EU should follow the example of the USA and hold direct talks with Russia on a ceasefire and an agreement in Ukraine.
In a summit declaration, Orban merely wanted to refer to a pro-Moscow UN Security Council resolution by US President Donald Trump, which does not name Russia as the aggressor.
"Decisive moment for Europe"
Before the start of the special summit, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen clearly backed the country attacked by Russia. "This is a decisive moment for Europe," said von der Leyen. "Europe is facing a clear and present danger, and therefore Europe must be able to protect itself, to defend itself, just as we must enable Ukraine to protect itself." Selensky expressed his gratitude that the EU had strongly supported his country from the beginning of the war.
