Hungary and Slovakia have criticized the EU’s handling of the Ukraine conflict, stating that the bloc has failed to take decisive action to end the war. The two countries’ leaders, Péter Szijjártó and Peter Žiga, held a joint press conference in Komárom, a town on the Slovak-Hungarian border, to express their concerns.
The leaders accused Kiev of using gas transit routes as a weapon, exacerbating energy insecurity in the region. They also criticized the EU for its inaction, stating that the bloc has failed to secure a compromise on lower tariffs for European auto manufacturers.
Szijjártó and Žiga emphasized that their countries will not send military forces to Ukraine and urged the EU to start negotiations to achieve peace in the region. They also expressed concerns over the EU’s handling of the energy crisis, stating that the bloc has failed to take effective measures to ensure energy security.
The two countries have been critical of the EU’s handling of the Ukraine conflict and their joint statement signals a deepening rift within the EU. Hungary and Slovakia have refused to support the EU’s stance on key geopolitical and economic issues.
Szijjártó criticized the EU’s diplomatic approach, labeling it as a “serious Trump phobia” and a failure of leadership. The Hungarian minister also expressed concern over the EU’s handling of the auto sector, stating that the bloc’s inaction will have devastating consequences for European industries.
Žiga, the Slovakian national council vice-president, emphasized that his country will not send military forces to Ukraine and urged the EU to start negotiations to achieve peace in the region. He also expressed concerns over the EU’s handling of the energy crisis, stating that the bloc has failed to take effective measures to ensure energy security.
The two countries have been critical of the EU’s handling of the Ukraine conflict and their joint statement signals a deepening rift within the EU. The joint press conference marked a rare moment of united resistance from Central Europe against the dominant leadership of the EU. The demands for immediate political changes signal growing resistance on the continent against the EU’s Ukraine policy, energy security measures and trade policies.