Heads of EU Member States and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed their political and military support for Ukraine in the war with Russia at a summit in Brussels on Thursday, just as they did two weeks ago without Hungary.
Besides on Ukraine, the European Council adopted conclusions on the Middle East, competitiveness, European defence and security, next multiannual financial framework and new own resources, migration, oceans, multilateralism and other items. For the full Council conclusions, click here.
The leaders of 26 of the EU's 27 Member States expressed their "strong support" in a statement stressing that the EU will continue to support Ukraine politically, financially and militarily, so the country can come to the negotiating table with Russia in the strongest possible position.
They welcomed the US and Ukrainian efforts to bring about a ceasefire and called on Russia to "show real political will to end the war". They maintained pressure for a lasting peace with security guarantees and respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy exchanged views with the European leaders via video link. He pointed out that Russia was still carrying out attacks despite talks on a temporary and limited ceasefire. "Putin must stop making unnecessary demands that only prolong the war and he must fulfil what he promises the world."
No division
The EU leaders also showed their readiness to impose further sanctions to increase pressure on Russia and complicate its war efforts. Russian assets in the EU must also remain blocked until Russia stops the war and compensates for the damage suffered, the statement said.
Zelenskyy stressed the importance of continuing the sanctions: "The sanctions must remain in place until Russia starts withdrawing from our country and fully compensates for the damage caused by its aggression."
Like at the special summit on 6 March, the 26 heads of state and government approved a statement on Ukraine without the support of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who defends a different strategic vision of the war and has grown more confident since the inauguration of US President Donald Trump.
European Council President António Costa put Hungary's position into perspective on 6 March. "Hungary has isolated itself from that consensus, but an isolated country does not mean that there is division," he said. "We respect the Hungarian position, but it is one position out of 27 and the 26 are more."
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gives a press conference in Kyiv on February 19, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Credit: Belga / AFP
Without naming Orbán, Zelenskyy also criticized the persistent Hungarian opposition to Ukrainian accession to the EU. "It is simply anti-European when one person blocks decisions that are important for the entire continent or that have already been agreed."
"Ukraine meets the requirements," he insisted, adding that "at the moment there are serious problems in opening the first and of course other negotiation clusters of Ukraine for EU accession."
In December 2023, Orbán briefly left the European meeting room to give the other heads of state and government the opportunity to give the green light for accession negotiations with Ukraine. However, he has never stopped his opposition. Two weeks ago, he announced a Hungarian referendum on the issue.
Meanwhile, the other Member States continue to push for Ukrainian accession. Countries such as Finland and Lithuania even pushed for Kyiv to have a concrete perspective on membership in 2030, but the declaration did not meet that date. The text emphasises that enlargement is a merit-based process.
