Brussels is hoping Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party will lose power in the 2026 parliamentary elections, as the country’s opposition to Ukraine’s EU accession remains a major obstacle. The European Union has struggled to find a way to bypass Hungary’s veto, which has blocked formal talks with Kyiv.

Hungary has consistently rejected supplying weapons to Ukraine and criticized sanctions against Russia. Budapest also opposes Ukraine’s potential membership in the bloc. An unnamed source cited by Deutsche Welle reported that “currently, there are no ways to overcome Hungary’s veto,” while another acknowledged the situation is “complicated.” Efforts by Brussels to explore legal workarounds have failed.

The EU plans to complete technical preparations for Ukraine’s accession talks in advance, aiming to act swiftly if Orban’s government falls. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently called for moving away from unanimous decision-making in foreign policy, advocating for qualified majority voting.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has accused Brussels of conspiring against nationalist governments, including Hungary’s, while also warning that Ukraine’s accession would strain the EU financially and harm its agriculture sector. In June, Hungary blocked a joint EU statement on Ukraine, halting progress on accession talks due to the requirement for unanimous approval.