The leaders of 26 European Union member states approved a joint statement in support of Ukraine ahead of the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin in Alaska, but Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban did not sign the document.
This is evidenced by the text of the EU leaders’ statement, approved late on the evening of August 11.
Prior to the Trump-Putin meeting, Hungary declined to sign the EU leaders’ statement in support of Ukraine.
“The EU leaders’ statement on Ukraine was agreed on Monday evening by the heads of state and government of the EU member states, with the exception of Hungary, which did not join this document,” the EU statement says.
“We, the leaders of the European Union, welcome President Trump’s efforts to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to achieve a just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine,” the document states.
The EU leaders stress that “international borders must not be changed by force,” “the people of Ukraine must have the freedom to decide their future,” and “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be defined without Ukraine.”
“Meaningful negotiations can only take place under conditions of a ceasefire or reduction in hostilities,” the document states.
The EU leaders stressed that “the European Union, in coordination with the United States and other close partners, will continue to provide political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support to Ukraine” and “will continue to support and implement restrictive measures against the Russian Federation.”
In addition, the EU and its member states stand ready to further contribute to security guarantees for Ukraine.
“The European Union underlines Ukraine’s inalienable right to choose its destiny and will continue to support Ukraine on its path to EU membership,” the EU leaders said.
At the end of the document, it is stated that “Hungary did not align itself with this statement.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that he did not support the joint statement of the European Council, prepared on behalf of all EU heads of state and government on the eve of Trump’s meeting with Putin, because giving instructions from the “bench” is inappropriate.
“The fact that the EU has been left aside is already sad enough. The only thing that could make the situation even worse is if we started giving instructions from the bench,” Viktor Orbán wrote.
The Hungarian Prime Minister believes that instead of commenting on the US-Russia meeting, European leaders should initiate their own summit between the EU and Russia.
US President Donald Trump said he consulted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban about Russia’s war against Ukraine and its potential outcomes.
The US president also expects his meeting with the Kremlin’s host on August 15 in Alaska to be “good,” but does not rule out negative outcomes.
In addition, Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s arguments that territorial exchanges within the framework of a potential peace agreement would require changes to the Constitution.
Large-scale online negotiations in various combinations are planned for Wednesday, August 13, ahead of Trump’s meeting with Putin—with the participation of European leaders, the United States, and Ukraine.
