Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán wants to use a new veto threat to force a fundamental debate on the European Union's Ukraine policy.
As long as no consensus is reached on that policy, no decisions can be made at EU leaders' level on additional financial support, security guarantees or the EU enlargement process, Orbán wrote in a letter to European Council President Charles Michel.
The letter, which was seen by dpa, was also distributed to EU countries in Brussels.
An agreement on further sanctions against Russia is also not possible until a consensus is reached, he said.
Orbán's letter is causing a stir in Brussels because a large majority of EU states want to make far-reaching decisions in favour of Ukraine at a summit meeting on December 14 and 15.
These include a decision to start EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and further financial support worth billions until the end of 2027, but a decision needs to be unanimous.
Orbán questions whether the most recent EU declaration on Ukraine, which was adopted in October and is based on the assumption that the EU's strategy is working, actually reflects the current situation. He wonders whether the objectives need to be adjusted.
Diplomats conceded on Wednesday that Orbán's questions are important and justified, but wondered whether the Hungarian leader, who recently met Russian President Vladimir Putin, is under Russian influence.
Orbán's goal is also likely to free up more than €13 billion ($14.2 billion) in frozen EU funding for his country. The European Commission said about a year ago it would only release the funds once Orbán's right-wing nationalist government had fully implemented promises to uphold the rule of law. Orbán believes Hungary has fulfilled those conditions.
