Luxembourg’s outgoing Prime Minister Xavier Bettel has warned Hungary not to obstruct the EU’s decision-making process regarding new financial assistance to Ukraine.
Viktor Orbán, who is currently the EU’s longest-serving Prime Minister and is known for his pro-Russia stance, was recently photographed shaking hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Orban’s office, the discussion was about energy cooperation and peace.
EU leaders condemned Orbán for his meeting with Putin during the EU Council.
During budget discussions on Thursday, Orbán made it clear that he will not support the EU’s policy towards Ukraine. This position made Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, who has previously clashed with Orbán over issues such as the rule of law and LGBTQ rights, say that the Hungarian PM cannot continue to hold the EU hostage over claims such as “if you need money for Ukraine, we need money for us,” according to Bettel.
Orbán seeks to unblock EU funds for Hungary, frozen due to issues related to the rule of law, media freedom, racist policy, and many others.
This week’s summit will likely be the last one for Bettel as the prime minister of Luxembourg. However, there are speculations that he may return as foreign minister. Recently, the governing coalition unexpectedly lost its slim majority. But Bettel’s party, the Democratic Party, has increased its seat count and is now in talks with the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV), led by former finance minister Luc Frieden, which emerged as the top party in the polls.
