Overview

• President Volodymyr Zelensky urged changing EU accession procedures or increasing pressure on Budapest to get past Hungary’s block, speaking alongside Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof.
• Prime Minister Viktor Orban denounced the appeal as “moral blackmail” on X and insisted no country gains EU entry through coercion.
• Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovach cited a consultation showing nearly 2.2 million people opposed Ukraine’s membership and told Zelensky to stop guessing what Hungarians think.
• Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said EU entry decisions require unanimity and asserted Ukraine cannot join without Hungary’s consent.
• Politico reported that European Council President António Costa has floated simplifying votes to open negotiating clusters for Ukraine, a step not adopted.