Hungary Blocks Unanimous Russia Condemnation at Three Seas Anniversary Summit
The Three Seas Initiative (TSI), a regional cooperation platform of 13 EU member states between the Baltic, Adriatic, and Black Seas, marked its tenth anniversary at a summit in Warsaw with an expansion of membership and a show of support for Ukraine—although Hungary broke ranks over condemning Russia’s war, The Gaze reports.
Two new associate members—Montenegro and Albania—were welcomed into the forum, alongside strategic partners Turkey and Spain. The summit saw strong calls for energy security and military coordination in response to Russian aggression.
“Regional cooperation is crucial for strengthening the standing of our nations in Europe and the world,” said Polish President Andrzej Duda in his opening remarks. “By collaborating closely, we can ensure security for our countries.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressing the summit virtually, stressed the need for protecting energy infrastructure and joint emergency planning:
“All of Europe – especially our region next to Russia – should speak with one voice. We all want Europe and the U.S. to stay strong partners. We all want this war to end in a fair way – with no rewards for Putin, especially no land.”
Despite a joint statement condemning Russia’s invasion, Hungary declined to endorse the document, issuing its own version that omitted references to war crimes and Ukraine’s EU path. The move underlined persistent divisions in the bloc over Budapest’s pro-Russia stance.
This year’s summit is likely the last under President Duda, raising questions about the initiative’s future.
“The leaders of the Three Seas countries…[will] further develop this initiative and further build the potential of our countries,” Duda said.
Read more on The Gaze: Why Russia May Advance Further Into Europe If Not Stopped