The European country fighting to block Ukraine joining EU in huge boost for Putin

A major European country has positioned itself as a major roadblock in Ukraine's accession to the EU after its leader launched a scathing attack on Volodymyr Zelensky. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in a post on X on Monday evening (october 6) that Hungary is not obligated to support Ukraine's accession to the European Union and that Kyiv will not blackmail Budapest into changing its stance.

"It turns out that President Zelenskyy wants to decide what's best for the Hungarians," Mr Orban wrote. "He is once again using his usual tactic of moral blackmail to push countries into supporting his war efforts." Then, in a direct message to the Ukrainian president, he wrote: "Dear Mr President, With all due respect, Hungary has no moral obligation to support Ukraine's EU accession. No country has ever blackmailed its way into the European Union - and it won't happen this time either."

He reiterated that the "EU Treaty leaves no room for ambiguity: membership is decided by the member states, unanimously."

"The Hungarian people have made up their minds. They overwhelmingly said no to Ukraine's EU membership in a referendum.

"If you wish to change that, the media campaign you're waging against Hungary is probably not the best way to make friends," he warned.

In June this year, Hungary blocked the opening of EU accession talks, with Mr Orban stating it would mean "integrating war" into the bloc. A month earlier, the country held a public consultation in which, of the two million people who participated - from a total of 9.6 million - 95% voted against Ukraine joining the EU, while only 5% supported the bid. That being said, a major poll conducted in the spring by Hungary's main opposition party, Tisza, which included a question on Ukraine's accession, 58.2% supported Ukraine's future EU membership.

Viktor Orban, 62, has been Hungary's prime minister since 2010, having previously held office from 1998 to 2002. Since he resumed office, his policies have undermined democracy, weakened judicial independence, increased corruption, and curtailed press freedom in Hungary. He frequently styles himself as a defender of Christian values in the face of the EU, which he claims is anti-nationalist and anti-Christian.

Despite being a NATO member, Mr Orban has maintained diplomatic and economic ties with Vladimir Putin. He is one of the few European leaders to consistently engage with the Kremlin and is Russia's closest ally in the EU.

Four days after Russia invaded Ukraine, the latter applied for membership in the EU. While Mr Zelensky requested immediate admission under a "new special procedure," European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen stated that she supports Ukrainian accession but that the process would take time.