'No Time for Games': Germany Сriticises Hungary for Opposing Ukraine

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has criticised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for vetoing European decisions regarding Ukraine, Politico reports.

In her comments to the press during a visit to Slovenia, Baerbock reacted to Orban's latest threats, which demand that the European Council leader not raise the issue of opening EU accession talks with Ukraine for discussion at the December summit of EU leaders. In addition, the Hungarian prime minister may block the decision on 50 billion in financial support for Ukraine.

According to Politico, there is no clear consensus among European dilemmas as to whether Orban will carry out his threats or is trying to blackmail Brussels into unblocking the payments to Hungary, which are withheld because of questions about the rule of law in the country.

"There is no time for games now. If we are in a situation where peace in Europe is under threat, we must do everything we can every day and every hour to protect our people, and, more importantly, to protect Ukrainians," Baerbock said.

She added that the EU will do everything possible to enable Ukraine to take the next step in its European integration.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon echoed Baerbock's comments on Orban, saying that blackmail is unacceptable and that countries that have implemented the necessary reforms to get closer to the EU should not be held hostage to national politics.

Baerbock also criticised Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic for trying to balance in the middle between the EU and Russia and for stirring up tensions with Kosovo.

"If we are talking about enlargement, it is important that it is impossible to sit on two chairs at the same time," said Annalena Baerbock.

During her visit, she also stressed that the European integration of the Western Balkans is in the interests of the EU's security.

As The Gaze previously reported, on 11 September, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited Kyiv. During her visit, she said that the EU was preparing a decision to start negotiations on Ukraine's accession and thanked the Ukrainian people for their courage in confronting Russia.

She also noted the success of judicial reform in Ukraine and promised that Germany would not stop supporting Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression - economically, militarily, or humanely.