"Hosting European Union leaders in Copenhagen earlier this month, the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, described Europe as facing the most difficult and dangerous situation since the second world war. There have been other moments of high tension, such as during the 1980s when US cruise missiles were deployed in Germany in response to an escalating arms race with the Soviet Union. From next year, long-range missiles will be back on German soil, amid fears that recent Russian incursions into EU airspace herald a new and ominous phase of the war in Ukraine."
"Soon after Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion in 2022, Ukraine was granted candidate status to the EU, along with neighbouring Moldova. Yet Viktor Orban's Hungary continues to block the progress of accession talks, a position that he reiterated in Denmark. Opposition to the liberal values for which the union stands has long been a badge of pride in Budapest, as Mr Orban has positioned himself as the EU's enemy within on issues such as minority rights and civic freedoms. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, that approach has been extended to EU foreign policy in ways that demand a more effective response than hitherto. Hungary has repeatedly delayed the introduction of EU sanctions on Moscow, made unilateral overtures to Mr Putin, and steadfastly maintained its reliance on Russian oil and gas."
Europe faces a grave security moment comparable to the second world war, with long-range missiles returning to Germany and worries about Russian incursions into EU airspace. Perceptions of the United States as an unreliable ally heighten the need for European unity, cohesion and solidarity. Copenhagen talks produced little substance and leaders disagree over using frozen Russian assets to aid Kyiv. A European Council summit must make concrete decisions. Ukraine and Moldova received EU candidate status, but Hungary under Viktor Orban blocks accession, delays sanctions, makes unilateral overtures to Putin and remains dependent on Russian energy.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]