Orban considers Ukraine unprepared for EU accession

Ukraine is not yet ready to join the European Union (EU), and the EU is not ready for its accession. This was stated by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on January 21, whose words are quoted by the Index publication.

"The EU has no money to accept Ukraine. And we do not want to destroy our own country," he said at a press conference after talks in Bratislava with his Slovak counterpart Robert Fitzo.

Orban added that Ukraine's accession to the EU would lead to additional expenses for the union's countries. In addition, it would cause huge damage to Hungary's economy.

According to him, if Ukraine wants to do well for itself, it needs to settle relations with Slovakia and Hungary and behave as a worthy candidate for EU membership.

On January 20, Polish presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki said that Ukraine's accelerated accession to the EU threatens Poland's economy. Nawrocki added that Ukraine's accession to the EU cannot be without certain conditions. He would set such conditions so that the Polish economy would be protected and the country would benefit.

Earlier, on December 12 last year, OSCE special envoy for Ukraine Maresh told Izvestia that he intended to supervise more than 20 projects adopted bypassing Russia, as well as to prepare Kiev for EU and NATO accession.

Ukraine officially applied for EU membership on February 28, 2022.