Politico finds out how EU plans to overcome Orbán's veto on Ukraine's accession

The European Union has "Plan A, B and C" scenarios for dealing with Hungary's firm refusal to support procedural decisions needed for Ukraine's further European integration.

Source: European Pravda, citing a Politico article based on discussions with sources

Details: All of Politico sources believe that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is unlikely to soften his position on Ukraine's EU integration.

One assumption is that Orbán could lose the April elections to his challenger Péter Magyar, after which Hungary's stance might change.

If Orbán remains in power, the EU is counting on the so-called Trump card. Since the idea of Ukraine's accelerated accession is included in a "20-point plan" for ending the war developed with the United States, and the Trump administration is interested in the success of its efforts, there is hope that the US president could use his influence over Viktor Orbán.

According to one European diplomat, the Trump administration previously helped exert pressure on Orbán during negotiations on new EU sanctions against Russia.

If the Trump factor also proves ineffective, the EU is considering a "nuclear option" against Hungary under Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union. This mechanism allows a member state's rights to be restricted if it is found to be acting contrary to the EU's fundamental values.

For now, EU officials are not publicly discussing this option, partly because it could strengthen Orbán during the election campaign. However, it remains under consideration if he stays in power after April and continues to block key EU decisions that require unanimity.

Overall, the article refers to an unprecedented "accession in advance" plan for Ukraine that is being discussed informally within the EU.

Background: Earlier, Brussels developed a new working format for Ukraine's EU accession to ensure that practical preparations for membership would not be slowed down by Hungary's veto on launching negotiations.

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