Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The US vetoed a UNSC resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, arguing it does not condemn Hamas nor grant "Israel" the right to “self-defense.”
Israeli occupation forces issue a new bombing threat against civilian buildings in the Southern Lebanese towns of Borj Qalaouiye and Chehabiyeh.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Extending the snapback mechanism deadline will test how independent Europeans truly are from the US.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Activating the snapback mechanism will nullify the Cairo Agreement, shut the door on cooperation between the IAEA and Tehran, and bar inspections.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: The diplomatic window remains open, but signs of activating the snapback sanctions mechanism on Iran are increasing.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Although the Cairo Agreement meets an important part of European demands, they have begun speaking of new conditions in recent communications.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: European countries show no independence in their stance toward Iran during the talks.
Israeli occupation forces issued bombing threats to bomb civilian buildings in Southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Person behind shooting operation at Allenby Crossing is a Jordanian Army soldier.
Israeli media citing Emergency Services: Both wounded in Allenby shooting operation now dead.

Hungary diverges from EU by proposing Ukraine as a 'buffer zone': FT

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Financial Times
  • 20 Mar 2025 14:50
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

Hungary is set to oppose the EU again at a leaders' summit, rejecting Ukraine’s rapid accession and military aid, with EU Minister János Bóka arguing for a Ukraine "buffer zone".

Listen
  • x
  • Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrives for an EU summit at the Egmont Palace in Brussels, on February 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
    Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrives for an EU summit at the Egmont Palace in Brussels, on February 3, 2025. (AP)

A Financial Times (FT) report on Thursday revealed that Hungary will again vote against the rest of the EU at a leaders’ summit today, as Budapest doubles down on its opposition to Kiev's rapid EU accession and sending it military aid, the country’s EU minister told FT's correspondent. 

Hungary is going against the EU mainstream on Ukraine, pushing sanctions against Russia and holding up billions in financing for Kiev by arguing they "prolong the war."

In an interview with the Financial Times, Hungarian EU minister János Bóka admitted that Budapest was adopting a more assertive stance, stating that with Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House, the EU should cease its support for Kiev through arms and financial aid.

Boka said, "We do not see the security of Europe in the integration of Ukraine into defense systems, but we see the need for a buffer zone between Russia and European defense structures, which serves the interests of both Russia and Europe."

He said, referring primarily to the US and Russia, “Ukraine can only function as a buffer zone if there is a consensus among global actors on what is possible and what is not possible on the territory of Ukraine,” adding, “Otherwise, it will be a conflict zone, not a buffer zone.”

Boka further warned, “If either the US or the EU does something in Ukraine without [Vladimir] Putin’s approval, this in itself is a source of conflict.”

The report mentioned that diplomats from other EU nations recognized that Hungary’s "strategic divergence" from its allies seemed irreconcilable, and informal talks were underway to find ways to bypass Budapest’s veto in unanimous decision-making.

Related News

EU court voids approval for Russia to build Hungary nuclear plant

Viktor Orban urges EU leaders to sign security deal with Russia

That said, one senior EU diplomat said: “Continued opposition towards Ukraine sooner or later must have conclusions for the position of Hungary,” adding that some EU foreign ministers discussed repercussions for Budapest at a meeting on Monday. “This debate has been launched.”

Hungary’s confidence is bolstered by Trump’s warming ties with Moscow, which Bóka described as driven by both geopolitical and ideological factors.

He said that many make the same mistake of underestimating the extent of the Trump administration's dislike of European institutions, adding that "Trump sees the EU not just as an international body with opposing interests, but as a political opponent, and treats it accordingly." 

Boka also said Hungary’s “reservations” about the sanctions on Russia had “intensified”, as they in his view threaten to undermine the peace process.

“We do not want decisions on the sanctions regime to become an obstacle to the ceasefire and peace negotiations . . . We should be talking about the extent to which sanctions help or hinder this specific peace process,” Bóka said.

Hungary may block renewal of EU sanctions on Russia: Reports

On that note, earlier this month, Hungary signaled possible resistance to the European Union's upcoming renewal of sanctions on Russia, which must be unanimously approved by all 27 member states before they expire on March 15.

According to a report by Euractiv, Budapest could use its position to delay or challenge the extension during upcoming discussions. 

At last week's emergency EU summit on Ukraine, Hungary was the only member state that declined to endorse a joint statement adopted at the meeting's conclusion. While the issue is set to be revisited at the next EU summit on March 20-21, sources cited by Euractiv suggest that Hungary did not actively obstruct the initiatives proposed by other states.

The report notes that Budapest did not directly challenge the sanctions or the transit of Russian energy resources but may have been reserving its efforts for the next round of talks.

  • Hungary
  • Budapest
  • war in Ukraine
  • Kiev
  • Ukraine
  • European Union
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Why is Choose Love using a firm with British and US intelligence connections to run a pro-Palestine musical event? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Together for Palestine: Troubling questions about the organisers of this huge event

  • Opinion
  • 17 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025
UKLFI’s latest faux pas, like "Israel’s" recent failed attempt at regime change in Iran, is unambiguously indicative of a flailing entity on the verge of extinction. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

Zionist lawfare operation facing collapse?

  • Opinion
  • 13 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS