Hungary and Slovakia are tarnishing the EU’s image by throwing a wrench in the bloc’s stance against Russia, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s top adviser has said.
Mikhail Podoliak voiced his frustration with the two Central European countries as prime ministers Viktor Orban of Hungary and Robert Fico of Slovakia have been increasingly questioning the unconditional military and financial aid to Kiev, as well as insisting that the conflict must be resolved through diplomacy.
Earlier this month, Kiev criticized Orban for suggesting a Christmas truce between Ukraine and Russia. Zelensky was similarly angry with Fico, who recently traveled to Moscow, ignoring Ukraine’s pleas to avoid contact with President Vladimir Putin.
“They are constantly blocking EU’s initiatives at different levels. It is puzzling to me why they keep playing this game,” Podoliak told Ukrainian TV on Tuesday. “The two countries are nullifying the EU’s reputation, and there is no retaliation.”
The presidential adviser suggested that Brussels could “use legal procedures and stop the ability of Hungary and Slovakia to block its initiatives.”
In a separate interview with RBK Ukraine, Podoliak claimed that Budapest and Bratislava have “become significantly more pro-Russian.”
“It is strange when a country like Slovakia comes out and says, ‘Let’s work with Russia after all,’” he stated, arguing that Slovakia should leave the EU if it “believes that Russia is in the right.”
Fico said his trip to Moscow was a response to Ukraine’s plans to end the transit of Russian natural gas to Slovakia. He warned that the end of the deliveries, which mainly pass through Ukrainian territory via the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, would badly damage the economy.
The Slovak prime minister said he was surprised by Ukraine’s criticism of his visit, and that Zelensky had made an “absurd” proposal to continue the transit of gas on condition that Slovakia holds off payments to Russia until the conflict is resolved.
Fico has warned against further escalation between NATO and Russia. He stated that Kiev should be “at least a little realistic” and “admit that Russia will never leave Crimea, Donetsk, and Lugansk.” Slovak President Peter Pellegrini has argued that Ukraine might have to accept “partial territorial losses” in exchange for peace.