Recent European summits, including one in Copenhagen, have been significantly overshadowed by the persistent obstructionism of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. His repeated vetoes have created substantial roadblocks for collective European Union support for Ukraine, jeopardizing unity at a critical juncture when Russia escalates its aggression and the United States' commitment appears to waver. Despite impassioned appeals from other heads of state and government, Orbán steadfastly refused to lift his veto on Ukraine's bid for EU membership, an action that also impedes Moldova's progress in accession negotiations. EU enlargement requires unanimity, and Orbán's stance proved inflexible, even when European Council President António Costa attempted to introduce a qualified majority voting system for such matters, a proposal Orbán swiftly rejected as 'dead'.

Beyond membership, Orbán also rejected a critical initiative to provide a €140 billion loan to Ukraine, which would be financed using immobilised assets of the Russian Central Bank. This refusal came despite a compelling argument from his Belgian counterpart, Bart De Wever, who advocated for sharing the risks, especially given that Belgium is home to Euroclear, the central securities depository holding the majority of these Russian assets. De Wever emphasized the need for 'maximum legal certainty' and 'solidarity', yet Orbán dismissed the proposal, stating, 'Belgium needs the mutualisation of the responsibility. No way. We're not part of the deal.' He explicitly added that if the EU decides to 'touch and take away the money of somebody else', Hungary would not participate, thereby absolving itself of future responsibility.

This lack of unanimity not only complicated the €140 billion scheme, preventing the European Commission from using the EU budget as a guarantor, but also threatens other critical EU processes. Proposed amendments to how sanctions are renewed, aimed at making asset freezing more predictable, also require unanimous consent. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen openly expressed her frustration at the Copenhagen closing press conference, asserting that she would 'not allow one country, and I will certainly not allow Mr Orbán, to take decisions upon the entire European future.' She suggested that Ukraine could continue its technical preparations while awaiting the lifting of the veto, referencing Ukraine's 'record speed' in completing legislative screening for EU clusters.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, standing beside Frederiksen, accused Orbán of political opportunism, linking his actions to upcoming Hungarian elections in April 2026 where he faces a strong opposition challenge. Zelenskyy highlighted that Russia initiated the war precisely because of Ukraine's desire to align with Europe and its shared values. As the accession deadlock persists, and work on the €140 billion loan faces hurdles, Brussels also anticipates a potential veto from Slovakia on the 19th package of sanctions.

Meanwhile, Romanian President Nicușor Dan has joined other EU leaders in advocating for Moldova's accelerated EU accession, announcing 'technical negotiations' despite the official launch of talks being contingent on unanimity. Romania, sharing a special relationship with Moldova, actively supports both Moldova and Ukraine's EU aspirations. President Dan expressed optimism about Moldova's future EU membership following a decisive pro-European vote in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, despite Russian disinformation efforts. He stated, 'many issues will be discussed in technical negotiations with Moldova,' irrespective of the formal timetable.

Regarding Ukraine, President Dan adopted a more nuanced stance, acknowledging Hungary's veto but also introducing a new 'pending discussion' concerning Ukraine's agricultural sector. He noted Ukraine's significant agricultural production, which could potentially 'unbalance the existing (EU) mechanisms,' and highlighted that Ukraine currently does not meet EU agricultural standards. Dan suggested a 'special status' for Ukraine in agriculture, allowing it to continue significant exports to non-European countries, while being treated as an equal in all other accession clusters. He also acknowledged the overriding issue of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Despite Romania's strong ties with Hungary, President Dan was unequivocal about the need to overcome Hungary's veto concerning Ukraine, stating, 'We must find a way to negotiate' for 'some middle ground.' He underscored that the broader political clash boils down to 'loyal EU cooperation' and the principle of national sovereignty. While not advocating for eliminating the veto power in principle, he argued that 'a systematic veto does not mean loyal cooperation.' Dan explained that while the Treaty on European Union guarantees sovereignty, implying a veto right, there are situations, particularly regarding financial contributions, where blocking funds for a widely supported cause by a country contributing little is not legitimate. He concluded that between these extremes lies the realm of politics, where negotiation is essential. Romania has also recently experienced Russian airspace violations, to which NATO allies have responded swiftly, sending a clear message of deterrence.