Zelenskyy calls on EU to send 'clear political message' on Ukraine's accession, despite Hungary's block

Jennifer Rankin

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on European leaders to send “a clear political message” of support for Ukraine’s accession to the EU, as Hungary continues to stymie progress.

Zelenskyy’s appeal in a video address to EU leaders was made on Thursday evening just hours after Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orbán claimed he had a mandate to stop Ukraine’s EU accession.

Hungary is blocking the opening of detailed membership talks with Ukraine on the so-called “cluster one fundamentals”, the values chapters of the EU rulebook pertaining to the functioning of democratic institutions, independent judiciary and sound public administration.

Orbán arrived at the summit claiming that 2.2m Hungarians opposed Ukraine’s accession, based on a national poll, after a campaign in which voters were bombarded with anti-Ukraine messages.

Without naming names, Zelenskyy said:

“What’s needed now is a clear political message – that Ukraine is firmly on the European path and that Europe stands by its promises.”

Opening cluster one was not just a procedure, Zelenskyy told the leaders:

“This is what gives motivation, support and strength to the men and women who are defending their families against Russia’s criminal and unprovoked war.”

Ukraine’s president also urged EU leaders to toughen sanctions, proposing a cap on Russian oil revenues of $30, half of the current $60 imposed by the G7. The European Commission recently called for a $45 price cap, but the plan has not won US support.

“Sanctions against Russia remain one of the most effective tools for limiting its aggression.”

He called for sanctions on energy, banks, finance, Russia’s shadow fleet and supply chains that bring European components to Russian weapon factories.