European Council President Charles Michel plans to cut his trip to China short to urgently address tensions with Hungary as EU leaders prepare for the EU-China summit on December 7 and 8. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has signaled opposition to Kyiv’s potential EU membership, a stance that shapes the broader debate within the bloc. This development is reported by Policy with sources familiar with the discussions.
According to a European Council confidant, Michel will return to Brussels after the first day of talks in China to continue consultations with EU leaders. The plan reflects the need for rapid coordination across member states ahead of key decisions on Ukraine and the future of EU policy toward the country. The same source notes that in Beijing Michel will not enjoy a private, always-on channel of contact that would guarantee negotiations outside the circle of European partners, underscoring the public and multi-lateral nature of the discussions.
Policy notes that Michel had previously held talks with Orban in Budapest about Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, which reportedly did not yield a breakthrough. The Hungarian prime minister signaled that no concrete decisions had been made on financial aid to Ukraine or on initiating EU accession negotiations. He pointed to a letter addressed to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, as a basis for his position. He also indicated that sanctions against Russia could be contemplated only after a broader strategic discussion among participating leaders in Brussels in December. The Hungarian leader emphasized the need for an open and frank dialogue within the European Council about the EU’s strategic objectives in relation to Ukraine.
Earlier warnings from Hungary suggested that the EU could become isolated in its approach to the Ukraine conflict if consensus could not be found. These dynamics set the stage for a tense and highly watched summit where the EU must balance support for Ukraine with the varied national interests of its member states. The upcoming talks in Brussels and the ongoing discussions with Beijing are expected to shape the bloc’s approach to security, economic support, and the path toward possible enlargement in the region, all while navigating the pressures from member states like Hungary that seek a clear and coordinated strategy. The outcome of these negotiations will influence both immediate policy choices and longer term EU strategy in relation to Ukraine and the broader geopolitical order. Policy reviews and statements from diplomatic circles indicate that the EU aims to keep unity on the core objective of Ukraine’s eventual alignment with European institutions, alongside a coherent plan for sanctions, diplomacy, and regional stability. The discussions reflect the wider objective of defining Europe’s stance toward Russia and its neighbors amid evolving geopolitical challenges. Attribution: Policy.