Orbán’s Hungary is now blocking not only Ukraine’s path to the EU but also the EU’s ability to defend itself” — Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze
30 September 2025, 11:03
The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU took part in the Warsaw Security Forum, speaking in a panel titled “The Unfinished EU: The Next Chapter of Enlargement,” which focused on the challenges and prospects of the European Union’s enlargement.
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze reminded participants that Ukraine continues to experience the horrors of Russian terror every single day and night. “Just last weekend, a COSAC delegation was in Kyiv. Our colleagues shared with us a night of Russian missile attacks. In the morning, we went together to the sites of the strikes, where people had been killed. One of our colleagues, from a very Western European country, said: ‘This is the future of Europe if Europe does nothing.’ So, when this comes from someone in Western Europe — not me — perhaps you will finally listen to one another and start acting with greater strength, unity, and commitment,” she said.
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze stressed that Russia’s war against Ukraine is also a war against the whole of Europe. However, according to her, the sense of urgency and resolve among Ukraine’s partners has unfortunately faded.
Regarding European integration and the reforms Ukraine must carry out on this path, the Committee Chair noted that the process is far more complex during wartime. “These are collective efforts, regardless of political affiliation, to ensure Ukraine fulfils all conditions — first for obtaining EU candidate status, and now for opening accession negotiations. For Ukrainian society, EU membership is a ray of light at the end of the tunnel — a vision of the future amid the suffering we are enduring today. That is why public support for European integration remains so strong,” she said.
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze emphasized that launching accession talks with the EU is now critically important — not only to sustain public support but also as a safeguard ensuring that reforms and democratic transformations remain irreversible. “In July, there was a serious attack on Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions. Fortunately, we managed to overcome it. But opening negotiations on the first cluster could now serve as a magnifying lens through which Europe would keep focused attention on developments in Ukraine. For us, this would be a strong deterrent against any rollback. Yet it seems we are losing this momentum because of the short-sighted interests of a single country — Hungary — which continues to block the process with its veto,” she said.
According to Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, it is the European Union that must resolve this issue, because the problem does not lie within bilateral relations between Ukraine and Hungary. Ukraine, she said, is making every effort to engage in a constructive dialogue, but the process is stalled for entirely different reasons. “So the real question is for the European Union itself — after making a tectonic shift in its policy by opening the path for Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and unblocking progress for the Western Balkans — is the EU capable of decisive action? These delays will slow reforms in Ukraine, and other countries may become hostages to the EU’s inability to act,” she stressed.
She added that Orbán’s Hungary is now blocking not only Ukraine’s movement toward the EU but also the EU’s capacity to defend itself, as it has vetoed the European Peace Facility — €6 billion intended for Europe’s defence that remain frozen. Hungary also continually seeks to weaken and delay new sanctions against Russia. “This problem therefore goes far beyond bilateral relations with Ukraine. It creates security risks and raises a fundamental question for the EU — how to act regarding the leadership of this EU member,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.
She concluded by saying that with Ukraine, the European Union will become stronger, as Ukraine can contribute security, creativity, and industrial strength. “But you must show more effort and creativity to explain to your own societies why this matters for you as well,” she summed up.
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze reminded participants that Ukraine continues to experience the horrors of Russian terror every single day and night. “Just last weekend, a COSAC delegation was in Kyiv. Our colleagues shared with us a night of Russian missile attacks. In the morning, we went together to the sites of the strikes, where people had been killed. One of our colleagues, from a very Western European country, said: ‘This is the future of Europe if Europe does nothing.’ So, when this comes from someone in Western Europe — not me — perhaps you will finally listen to one another and start acting with greater strength, unity, and commitment,” she said.
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze stressed that Russia’s war against Ukraine is also a war against the whole of Europe. However, according to her, the sense of urgency and resolve among Ukraine’s partners has unfortunately faded.
Regarding European integration and the reforms Ukraine must carry out on this path, the Committee Chair noted that the process is far more complex during wartime. “These are collective efforts, regardless of political affiliation, to ensure Ukraine fulfils all conditions — first for obtaining EU candidate status, and now for opening accession negotiations. For Ukrainian society, EU membership is a ray of light at the end of the tunnel — a vision of the future amid the suffering we are enduring today. That is why public support for European integration remains so strong,” she said.
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze emphasized that launching accession talks with the EU is now critically important — not only to sustain public support but also as a safeguard ensuring that reforms and democratic transformations remain irreversible. “In July, there was a serious attack on Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions. Fortunately, we managed to overcome it. But opening negotiations on the first cluster could now serve as a magnifying lens through which Europe would keep focused attention on developments in Ukraine. For us, this would be a strong deterrent against any rollback. Yet it seems we are losing this momentum because of the short-sighted interests of a single country — Hungary — which continues to block the process with its veto,” she said.
According to Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, it is the European Union that must resolve this issue, because the problem does not lie within bilateral relations between Ukraine and Hungary. Ukraine, she said, is making every effort to engage in a constructive dialogue, but the process is stalled for entirely different reasons. “So the real question is for the European Union itself — after making a tectonic shift in its policy by opening the path for Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and unblocking progress for the Western Balkans — is the EU capable of decisive action? These delays will slow reforms in Ukraine, and other countries may become hostages to the EU’s inability to act,” she stressed.
She added that Orbán’s Hungary is now blocking not only Ukraine’s movement toward the EU but also the EU’s capacity to defend itself, as it has vetoed the European Peace Facility — €6 billion intended for Europe’s defence that remain frozen. Hungary also continually seeks to weaken and delay new sanctions against Russia. “This problem therefore goes far beyond bilateral relations with Ukraine. It creates security risks and raises a fundamental question for the EU — how to act regarding the leadership of this EU member,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.
She concluded by saying that with Ukraine, the European Union will become stronger, as Ukraine can contribute security, creativity, and industrial strength. “But you must show more effort and creativity to explain to your own societies why this matters for you as well,” she summed up.