"Something is wrong with Hungary!" Selenskyj attacks Orbán - Grüner calls for EU summit exclusion

Created: 05/25/2022, 15:00

By: Stephanie Munk, Christoph Gschoßmann

For more than three months, Russia has been attacking its neighbor in the Ukraine war.

Will there be a prisoner exchange?

News ticker.

• Escalated conflict in Ukraine

  : Moscow announces that it will examine prisoner exchanges with Ukraine after trials.

• EU dissatisfaction with Orban's role in the Ukraine war is growing

  : Green MP calls for summit exclusion.

• Selenskyj makes a declaration of war in Davos - and demands direct talks with Putin.

• This news ticker

  on the Ukraine-Russia negotiations and war diplomacy

   is constantly updated.

Update from May 25, 2:50 p.m .:

According to its own statements, Russia will examine a possible exchange of prisoners with Ukraine as soon as the court judgments against Ukrainian prisoners have been made.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said on Wednesday, according to Russian news agencies, an exchange would only be considered after a verdict against “those who have surrendered”.

Before that, discussions about an exchange were “premature”.

The pool photo published by the Russian state news agency Sputnik via AP shows Vladimir Putin, President of Russia (archive image) © Mikhail Metzel/Pool Sputnik Kremlin/AP/dpa

Ukraine-Russia talks: is Hungary at risk of being excluded from the EU summit?

Update from May 25, 1:31 p.m .:

Dissatisfaction with Viktor Orbán’s role in the Ukraine conflict is growing – a Green MEP is now even demanding that Hungary be excluded from the EU summit early next week.

According to the treaties, heads of state or government in the European Council must be “democratically accountable to their national parliament or to their citizens,” emphasized German MEP Daniel Freund in a letter to Council President Charles Michel.

Orbán should no longer take part in the summit meetings until democracy is restored in Hungary, Freund demanded.

"Only democrats are allowed to sit in the European Council," said the Green MEP.

Orban has been dismantling democracy in Hungary for years and, with the state of emergency that has now been declared, is also bypassing the last remnant of parliamentary control.

"When it comes to the most central decisions for security in Europe, no autocrat should sit at the table," explained Freund.

Previously, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Orbán had openly attacked.

Hungary is a declared opponent of an oil embargo against Russia.

At the same time, according to a Merkur report, the country also attracted attention with its reluctance to help refugees from Ukraine.

Viktor Orbán is considered a pro-Russian head of state.

Ukraine-Russia negotiations: armored vehicles from Lithuania

Update from May 25, 12:59 p.m.:

Ukraine will receive armored vehicles from Lithuania for the war against Russia.

The Lithuanian Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that the Baltic EU and NATO country will hand over 20 M113 armored personnel carriers, 10 military trucks and 10 all-terrain mine clearance vehicles to Kyiv.

The value of the equipment is around 15.5 million euros. 

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According to its own statements, Lithuania has given Ukraine military aid worth an estimated 100 million euros since the Russian attack.

Among the weapons supplied were Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons and mortars.

Ukraine-Russia negotiations: EU wants to confiscate oligarch assets if necessary

Update from May 25, 12:37 p.m .:

The European Commission has presented plans to confiscate the assets of Russian oligarchs.

"EU sanctions must be respected and those who try to circumvent them must be punished," said Deputy Commission President Vera Jourova.

The plans call for confiscation if oligarchs try to circumvent EU-imposed sanctions on Russia and hide assets.

Since such a confiscation is not yet legally possible in some EU countries, the Commission made another proposal: circumventing EU sanctions should become a criminal offense and be prosecuted uniformly across Europe.

This could include concealing assets or exporting or importing goods that are subject to trade bans.

If the confiscation and sale of Russian oligarchs' villas or yachts becomes legally possible, some member states want to use the proceeds to rebuild the devastated Ukraine.

However, other member states, including Germany, have expressed concerns that the measure could breach international and national laws.

The Russian oligarch Usmanov recently announced that he would return to his villa on Lake Tegernsee after fleeing it after the outbreak of the Ukraine war - and he called the sanctions against him unfair.

Some other oligarchs made an explosive proposal to the G7: they want to buy their way out of the sanctions.

Ukraine-Russia negotiations: Zelenskyj accuses the West of disagreement - and addresses Orban

Update from May 25, 11:25 a.m .:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Western countries of not standing united on the side of Ukraine.

“My question is: is there unity in practice?

I don't see them," Zelenskyy said during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Zelenskyj accused Turkey and Hungary in particular of not showing solidarity with his country, which has been defending itself in the Ukraine war for three months.

Selenskyj, who was connected via video, expressly thanked US President Joe Biden for the support of the USA.

As a European country, Ukraine needs above all "the support of a united Europe," said Zelenskyy.

"We will have a huge advantage over Russia if we are really united," he said.

Selenskyj expressly criticized Hungary, which refused to agree to an EU-wide oil embargo against Russia.

"Something is wrong with Hungary!" said the Ukrainian President.

The country is "not as united as the rest of the EU" in supporting Ukraine.

The head of state also recalled Turkey's resistance to Finland and Sweden joining NATO.

“Is there unity when Sweden and Finland join NATO?

no

So is the West united?

No,” said the Ukrainian President

Ukraine-Russia negotiations: Selenskyj makes a declaration of war in Davos - and demands direct talks with Putin

Update from May 25, 9:20

a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj does not want to give up any Ukrainian territory in return for peace.

"Ukraine is fighting until it has its entire territory back," Zelenskyy said at an event at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

He was digitally connected to the discussion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the participants via video link in Davos.

© Laurent Gillieron/KEYSTONE/dpa

Zelenskyi said he is ready for talks if Russia withdraws to the areas it was in before the war began in February.

But he will only speak to Putin himself.

"I can only speak directly to the president, no intermediaries, no intermediaries," said Zelenskyy.

For that, Putin has to leave his bubble.

Russia is not currently negotiating seriously.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called for a complete halt to western trade with Russia.

The sanctions would have to be taken to the next level.

"The world should stop buying Russian goods and services and stop trading with Russia," he said.

Otherwise, the money will help keep “the Russian war crimes machinery” running.

The West must accept that the ultimate goal in the Ukraine war must be a victory for Ukraine.

Ukraine-Russia negotiations: Switzerland hosts donor conference

Update from May 24, 10:36 p.m .:

Switzerland is setting up a donor conference for the reconstruction of Ukraine in July.

President Ignazio Cassis said at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he has sent out invitations to 40 countries and 18 international organizations.

In addition to funding for reconstruction, the conference should also be about reforms.

The conference, scheduled for July 4-5 in Lugano, Ticino, was originally scheduled to discuss reforms in Ukraine.

Now the focus should be on rebuilding the war-torn country.

"Considering how long the road is going to be, we can't start soon enough," Cassis said.

Ukraine war: US scraps Russia's dollar debt service exemption

Update from May 24, 10:13 p.m .:

The United States is removing a sanctions exemption that allows Russia to pay off its foreign debt with dollars.

The exception to the financial sanctions imposed because of the Ukraine war ends on Wednesday night (local time), as the US Treasury Department announced on Tuesday.

The measure could bring Russia one step closer to a default.

On Friday, Russia will have to pay off its national debt for the next time.

Western countries have imposed harsh sanctions on Moscow over Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

In the process, Russia was largely excluded from the international financial system.

Among other things, the possibility of the Russian state to pay off its debts with dollars stored in US accounts was blocked.

President Vladimir Putin's government could still use dollars held in Russia to repay debts.

However, this exception is now expiring.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen promised this last week.

Star investor Soros: Ukraine-Russia war could be the end of civilization

Update from May 24, 8:43 p.m .:

Star investor George Soros sees serious consequences if other crises such as climate change are delayed because of the war in Ukraine.

Issues that affect all of humanity have receded into the background in the face of the Russian war.

"That's why I say that our civilization may not survive," said the 91-year-old on Tuesday evening on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

In the fight against climate change, society has fallen sharply behind.

Climate change may already be irreversible.

Soros criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin and stressed that Ukraine had put up unexpectedly strong resistance to the attack.

Europe reacted to the invasion faster, more united and more forcefully than ever before in its history. At the same time, the European states remained highly dependent on Russian energy - "mainly because of the mercantilist policies" of the then Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"That made Germany the best-performing economy in Europe, but now there's a heavy price to pay," Soros said.

The Ukrainian ambassador raises serious allegations against Angela Merkel.

In the past she has often been a guest of Russian President Putin, as here in August 2021. © IMAGO / ITAR-TASS / Mikhail Metzel

Ukraine-Russia talks: Orban declares state of emergency in Hungary

Update from May 24, 8:07 p.m .:

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared a state of emergency in the EU country because of the Ukraine war.

As Orban announced on Tuesday evening, the state of emergency that will apply from midnight is intended to protect the country from the economic effects of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.

Orban had already declared a state of emergency because of the corona pandemic, but this order expires next Tuesday.

Baerbock: Work continues on arms deliveries for Ukraine

Update from May 24, 6:01 p.m .:

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has emphasized the readiness for further arms deliveries in the face of ongoing criticism of the German government’s hesitant support for Ukraine.

Germany is working together with Poland and international partners to "continue to supply more weapons, ammunition and heavy equipment," said the Green politician on Tuesday after meeting her Polish counterpart Zbigniew Rau in Berlin.

At the same time, she emphasized: "We are strengthening NATO's eastern flank with German soldiers and material in the Baltic States, as well as with anti-aircraft missiles in Slovakia."

She knows how much Poland has been looking at Germany since the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and "how the German government, how we act and what we do together to support Ukraine," said Baerbock, who said with reference to Rau : "You yourself are setting a good example." The willingness to help with which Poland has been looking after refugees from Ukraine for months "I find deeply impressive".

Update from May 24, 5:10 p.m .:

Russia has imposed an entry ban on 154 members of the British House of Lords.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, this is in response to the British government's decision in March to impose sanctions on almost all members of Russia's upper house.

Oil embargo against Russia?

Orban counters Habeck's lightning forecast - and wants EU billions

Update from May 24, 4:30 p.m .:

The EU’s planned oil embargo against Russia as a result of the Ukraine war will probably continue to fail due to Hungary’s resistance: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is still blocking it.

It is "very unlikely that a comprehensive solution can be found before the special summit of the European Council on May 30th and 31st," writes Orban in a letter to EU Council President Charles Michel.

The sanctions proposed by the EU Commission would lead to "serious disruptions to energy supplies" in Hungary and a massive increase in energy prices, Orban warned in the letter dated Monday (May 23).

At the same time, the Hungarian head of government called it "counterproductive" to discuss the sixth package of sanctions against Russia at the special summit as long as there was no consensus.

Viktor Orban (right) does not want to support an oil embargo against Russia, here with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

(Archive) © dpa/Kremlin

According to EU officials, Hungary recently called for an exception to the oil embargo beyond 2024 in negotiations with the Commission.

The government is also demanding unprecedented EU aid to turn away from Russian oil.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto put the money needed at "15 to 18 billion euros".

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced last week that she wanted to mobilize up to 300 billion euros from public and private funds to help the EU turn away from Russian gas and oil.

Orban criticized that the plan does not go into detail about Hungary's "serious concerns".

Economics Minister Robert Habeck said on Monday that an agreement on an EU oil embargo could be reached in a few days and explicitly criticized Hungary's position.

Ukraine-Russia negotiations: EU imposes import tariffs on Kyiv

Update from May 24, 3:24 p.m .:

The EU is waiving import duties for Ukraine for a year.

The member states sealed a corresponding proposal by the EU Commission on Tuesday.

The European Parliament had spoken out in favor of trade liberalization just under a week ago.

The temporary lifting of import duties by the EU therefore primarily affects Ukrainian industrial products, fruit and vegetables and other agricultural products.

The move is aimed at supporting exports from Ukraine to the EU and improving the situation of producers in the face of the Russian war of aggression.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj welcomed the EU plans at the end of April.

This will allow the country to keep its economic activity and production going as much as possible, he said.

According to EU figures, trade with Ukraine reached a record volume of 52 billion euros last year.

Ukraine negotiations: EU increases financial aid for Ukrainian army

Update from May 24, 3:09 p.m .:

The EU has increased funding to support the Ukrainian army to two billion euros.

As the Council of Member States announced in Brussels on Tuesday, the outstanding decision has been taken.

The political agreement on a further 500 million was reached in the middle of the month at a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

Of the extra money, $490 million will be spent on guns and ammunition, and $10 million on things like protective gear, first-aid kits and fuel.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell recently cited artillery pieces and armored vehicles as specific examples of planned arms deliveries.

Borrell made it clear on Tuesday that the current increase in funds should not have been the last.

"Tomorrow's history is being written today - on the battlefields of Ukraine," he said.

“The EU and its Member States are determined to continue to engage.

We will continue to the end.”

Ukraine-Russia negotiations: Russian UN diplomat resigned in protest - Moscow is now reacting

Update from May 24, 2:50 p.m .:

The Kremlin distanced itself from the man after the termination of a Russian diplomat at the United Nations.

"One can probably only say here that Mr. Bondarev no longer belongs to us - rather that he is against us," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday in Moscow, according to a report by the Interfax news agency.

Embassy counselor Boris Bondarev resigned on Monday after 20 years in protest at Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

In the ministry, it's all about "war friction, lies and hatred," the diplomat complained, enough was enough.

Peskov said: "He condemned the actions of the Russian leadership - and the actions of the Russian leadership are supported by practically the entire population of our country.

This means that this gentleman spoke out against the generally prevailing opinion of our country.”

Ukraine-Russia talks: Ex-US Secretary of State Kissinger makes territory proposal

Update from May 24, 1:54 p.m .:

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger suggested at the World Economic Forum in Davos that Ukraine give up part of its territory to Russia to end the Ukraine war.

The British newspaper

Ukraine must start negotiations on this as soon as possible, before the country creates "upheaval and tensions" that cannot be easily overcome.

Ideally, the border between Ukraine and Russia should be restored as it once was.

Exactly how this is meant remains unclear.

Everything else would not be in favor of Ukraine's freedom, but a new war against Russia itself, according to Kissinger.

It is "fatal" for the West to be carried away by the "mood of the moment" and forget Russia's position of power in Europe, said the ex-US Secretary of State.

Russia had been an "essential part of Europe" for over four decades.

Europe's heads of state should not lose sight of the long-term relationship - otherwise there is a risk of a "permanent alliance between Russia and China," believes the 98-year-old.

Ukraine itself has repeatedly stressed that it is not prepared to cede territories to Russia.

The war was only over with a complete withdrawal of all Russian troops.

Ukraine-Russia negotiations: Former Ukrainian minister calls for immediate gas stop from Moscow

Update from May 24, 12:42 p.m .:

From the point of view of former Ukrainian Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko, Russia’s war in Ukraine endangers global stability.

There is a risk of a food crisis if Ukraine cannot export its grain.

"And in many parts of the world, hunger is leading to civil unrest," Jaresko said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

A corridor must urgently be opened in Ukraine for the export of 20 million tons of grain from the previous harvest.

The only way to prevent a global economic downturn is to allow Ukraine to win the war, said Jaresko, who was Ukraine's finance minister from late 2014 to 2016.

To do this, the West must do more than it has done in the past to isolate the Russian economy.

"And that starts with oil and gas," Jaresko said.

The West must do everything possible to get rid of Russian gas.

In the meantime, for example, tariffs on Russian gas should be imposed, which means “less money will flow back to Russia and finance this war”.

Jaresko also called on the remaining German companies to give up their business in Russia.

"Your taxes are funding this war," she said.

In view of the sanctions and the impending loss of reputation, it is no longer worthwhile for many companies to produce in Russia anyway.

Update from May 24, 12:26 p.m .:

The finance ministers of the European Union are discussing new billions in aid for Ukraine in Brussels.

Deputy Commission President Valdis Dombrovskis promoted his authority's proposal to provide nine billion euros as emergency aid.

With this, the EU Commission wants to help avert national bankruptcy in the country in the Ukraine war.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that Ukraine's financial needs by June will total more than 14 billion euros.

Ukraine negotiations: Von der Leyen accuses Russia of using food as a weapon

Update from May 24, 12:16 p.m .:

EU Commission President von der Leyen drew parallels to the Soviet era with regard to the Russian handling of grain in Ukraine.

"In Russian-occupied Ukraine, the Kremlin's army is confiscating grain stocks and machinery," she said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"It reminds some of a dark past - the times of Soviet confiscation of crops and devastating famine of the 1930s."

In the Ukraine war, Putin not only used the energy supply as a weapon, a similar pattern can be seen in food security.

Russia is deliberately bombing grain stores in Ukraine and blockading Ukrainian ships carrying wheat and sunflower seeds in the Black Sea.

In addition, Russia hoarded its own food “as a form of blackmail”.

Deliveries have been halted to push up world prices and wheat is being traded against geopolitical support.

"There is only one thought behind it: Russia uses hunger and grain to exercise power," said von der Leyen.

As a result, wheat prices shot up worldwide.

Vulnerable countries and vulnerable populations are most affected.

"The signs of a growing food crisis are clearly visible."

Ukraine negotiations: Von der Leyen wants to use Russian assets for Ukraine reconstruction

Update from May 24, 11:43 a.m .:

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke out at the World Economic Forum in favor of using confiscated Russian funds for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

"We should turn every stone for this - if possible also Russian assets that we have frozen," said the top German politician in Davos.

It is about repairing the damage caused by Putin's destructive fury and shaping Ukraine's future according to the wishes of its citizens.

Ziel der Weltgemeinschaft sollte laut von der Leyen eine Niederlage Russlands sein. „Die Ukraine muss diesen Krieg gewinnen. Und Putins Aggression muss sich als strategisches Versagen herausstellen“, sagte sie. „Wir werden alles in unserer Macht Stehende tun, um der Ukraine zu helfen, sich zu behaupten und die Zukunft wieder in ihre eigene Hand zu nehmen.“ Die Ukraine sei ein Teil der „europäischen Familie“ und man habe es mit einem entscheidenden Moment für alle Demokratien auf der Welt zu tun.

Update vom 24. Mai, 11.31 Uhr: Nach ukrainischen Informationen soll Russlands Präsident Wladimir Putin kurz nach Kriegsbeginn Ziel eines gescheiterten Attentats gewesen sei. Das sagte der ukrainische Geheimdienst-Chef in einem Interview. Details zu dem angeblichen Attentat auf Putin lesen Sie in diesem Artikel.

Ukraine-Russland-Verhandlungen: US-Präsident Biden sieht im Krieg weltweite Herausforderung

Update vom 24. Mai, 10.40 Uhr: US-Präsident Joe Biden hat den Ukraine-Krieg als eine Herausforderung für die ganze Welt bezeichnet. Bei einem Gipfeltreffen vier führender Demokratien des Indopazifik-Raums in Tokio sagte Biden: „Das ist mehr als nur eine europäische Angelegenheit, es ist ein globales Problem.“ Biden weiter: „Wir bewegen uns durch eine dunkle Stunde unserer gemeinsamen Geschichte.“

Neben Japan, Australien und den USA nahm an den Beratungen auch Indien teil, das in Bezug auf den Ukraine-Krieg eine neutrale Haltung einnimmt und westliche Sanktionen nicht mitträgt. Biden sprach Indiens Haltung zu Russland im öffentlichen Teil des Gipfels nicht explizit an. Die USA und andere westliche Staaten bemühen sich jedoch, Indien zu überzeugen, etwas von Russland abzurücken. Indien hat traditionell gute Beziehungen zu Moskau und kauft viele russische Rüstungsgüter.

Bei dem Treffen begrüßte Joe Biden den australischen Regierungschef auf besondere Weise - und versicherte ihm, es sei „okay“, wenn er einschlafe.

„Viele Menschen wären nicht gestorben“: Selenskyj macht Westen für Kriegsopfer mitverantwortlich

Erstmeldung: Kiew - Der ukrainische Präsident Wolodymyr Selenskyj hat nach drei Monaten Ukraine-Krieg vom Westen moderne Raketenabwehrwaffen und Kampfflugzeuge gegen Russland gefordert - und macht bisher ausbleibende Waffenlieferungen mitverantwortlich für Kriegsopfer in der Ukraine.

Viele Menschen wären „nicht gestorben, wenn wir alle Waffen erhalten hätten, um die wir bitten“, sagte Selenskyj am Montagabend (23. Mai) in einer neuen Videobotschaft anlässlich des Angriffskriegs des russischen Präsidenten Wladimir Putin. Sein Land sei seit Kriegsbeginn am 24. Februar Ziel von 3000 Luftangriffen und annähernd 1500 Raketenangriffen gewesen. Die große Mehrheit der Angriffe habe zivilen Zielen gegolten.

Ukraine-Russland-Verhandlungen: Selenskyj fordert Recht auf Waffenhilfe ein

Alle Partner der Ukraine seien sich einig, dass der Kampf seines Landes gegen Russland dem „Schutz der gemeinsamen Werte aller Länder in der freien Welt“ diene, sagte Selenskyj weiter. Deshalb habe sein Land ein Recht auf Waffenhilfe.

Deutschland hatte Ende April grünes Licht für die Lieferung der von der Bundeswehr nicht mehr benutzten Panzer gegeben. Doch die Lieferung der Panzer lässt seither auf sich warten, da es Probleme mit der Beschaffung von Munition gibt. 30 Gepard-Flugabwehrpanzern sollen jetzt möglichst noch vor September der Ukraine bereitgestellt werden, gab die Bundesregierung am Montag (23. Mai) bekannt. 

Ukraine-Russland-Verhandlungen: Lage bleibt schwierig

In the east of Ukraine, where the Russian army has concentrated its activities, the situation remains difficult, said Zelenskyj in his video message.

He does not expect that Russia will give up the occupied territories in the Kharkiv region and other regions.

"The coming weeks of war will be difficult," he added.