Orban's office prepares demands to Ukraine in EU negotiations – Ukrainian diplomat

He shared his opinions with Espreso TV.

"I'm sure that Orban's office already has a plan on what demands we should put forward during the opening of negotiations on the EU, the formal process of gaining accession to NATO. And Hungary will do it to the fullest. Hungary's idea is not to obstruct this, but to get everything it wants. I think Budapest will play this not as a set of demands, but as a story. I am almost sure that they are already talking to Bulgarians, Romanians to open an additional chapter of negotiations on national minorities. And they will constantly increase the level of demands," the diplomat noted.

According to him, Hungary will now look for alliances within the EU on issues such as national minorities and agriculture, and it will definitely find them.

"We have to prepare to understand where we can make some compromises, not concessions, I emphasize, but compromises. And also where we will play with time and where we will play with different issues. But nevertheless, Hungary will put very firm and consistent pressure on us to ensure its demands and interests as formulated by Orban," Klimkin emphasized.

• On May 2, the European Commission adopted temporary safeguard measures against imports of certain agricultural products from Ukraine to 5 EU countries. Initially, the ban was to be implemented until June 5. However, on May 12, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary called on the European Commission to extend the embargo on agricultural products from Ukraine until the end of the year.

• On August 24, media reported that Hungary was asking the EU to extend the ban on imports of Ukrainian grain. Later, Polish Agriculture Minister Robert Telus said that the country would demand that the EU extend the ban on grain imports from Ukraine, and in case of refusal, it would impose its own restrictions. According to him, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary also have such intentions. 

• On August 26, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine responded to the plans of Slovakia, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, and Hungary to extend the ban on imports of Ukrainian grain until the end of 2023: the actions of 5 EU countries were called unacceptable.