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Orbán's envoys take Ukraine aid fight to Washington
Summary
A look back at a Hungarian delegation's meeting with US Republicans on 11 December 2023, days after Budapest restated its opposition to EU accession talks with Kyiv.
What was Hungary's government doing in Washington on 11 December 2023? According to reports at the time, representatives of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met United States Republicans to discuss ending EU and US military support to Ukraine.
The meeting followed a clear signal from Budapest a few days earlier. On 8 December 2023, Orbán reiterated Hungary's opposition to opening European Union accession talks with Ukraine. He cited concerns about Ukraine's readiness and the potential economic impact on the EU.
Taken together, the two episodes showed the Hungarian leadership pressing its case on two fronts: within the EU, over Ukraine's path towards membership, and in Washington, over the military backing Kyiv receives from both the EU and the US.
The Washington talks were reported as a discussion of ending support, not of adjusting it, and the Hungarian side's stated objections on accession centred on readiness and economic cost.
