Podcast “Ukraine – the situation”
Mölling hopes for further EU aid despite Hungary’s veto
One against all: Victor Orban, Hungary’s head of government, is against aid for Ukraine
© John Thys / AFP
When it comes to aid to Ukraine, the EU agrees. Actually. Only the Hungarian Victor Orban is blocking it. Security expert Christian Mölling still doesn’t believe that the Europeans will be a supporter, as he says in “Ukraine – the situation”.
Despite Hungary’s blockade stance, security expert Christian Mölling hopes for further help from the European Union (EU). Ukraine. Mölling says in star-Podcast “Ukraine – the situation”: “There will be the next attempt to make this possible.” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s veto at the summit in Brussels in no way means that the EU will no longer be a supporter of Ukraine. In the meantime, individual states are particularly required to act without the EU. According to the research director of the German Council on Foreign Relations, the main problem is that every delay is associated with uncertainty.
There is no automatic mechanism for Ukraine to join the EU
He viewed the decision as an important step EUsummit to start accession talks with Ukraine. But here too there is no automatism; and a blockade – for example by Hungary – is possible until the last minute. Mölling points out that if the Europeans agree, they can admit Ukraine into the Union very quickly – and if they disagree, they can keep it waiting indefinitely. “Ultimately this is a political decision,” he said.
The Moscow leadership is benefiting from the uncertainty about the further behavior of Europe and the USA. Russia’s president is also involved in the discussion taking place in the West as to whether Ukraine is becoming weaker and Moscow is improving its position Wladimir Putin used during his several-hour television appearance this week. Putin wants to spread confidence, which he probably succeeds in. In view of the upcoming presidential elections, he has a great interest in the country’s social cohesion.
“Sanctions evasion is part of the game”
Putin had portrayed Russia on state television as successful and economically strong – despite all the sanctions from the West. Mölling says sanctions have been slow to work. It is difficult to say what development would have been without the measures. But every decision creates a reaction: “Sanction evasion is part of the game,” said the expert. “That means I have to constantly adjust and not think that I can turn off the tap completely.”