Hungary stalls EU's Ukraine resolution, only 26 nations agree on conclusions

A senior EU official has confirmed that Hungary once again blocked the final document of the EU summit on Ukraine, with only 26 EU member states backing the conclusions.

"The conclusions on Ukraine were approved in the format of 26 countries, using the same formula as at the previous summit," the official told journalists on the sidelines of the ongoing meeting in Brussels, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

The block occurred after Hungary refused to approve the final document regarding Ukraine during the emergency EU summit on March 6. Hungary’s opposition stemmed from disagreements with the EU’s stance on the principle of achieving peace through strength, a key policy that the country rejects.

As a result, the EU added a separate text of support for Ukraine to the final document, which was signed by 26 countries. Two weeks ago, Hungary refused to put its name to a joint EU statement that referred to Ukraine achieving “peace through strength” by counting on continued European military and financial support.

Ahead of the summit, EU officials and diplomats from other countries made clear they wouldn’t spend time being drawn into hours-long debates with Budapest when agreement on Ukraine was impossible.

Two weeks ago, at an emergency summit, European Council President Antonio Costa described Hungary as “isolated”. “We respect Hungary’s position,” he said. “But it’s one out of 27, and 26 are more than one.”

By Naila Huseynova