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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/23/eu-leaders-accuse-hungary-sabotaging-support-ukraine>
"European leaders have accused Hungary of sabotaging support for Ukraine on the
eve of the fourth anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion, after a
defiant Budapest blocked fresh economic measures against Moscow.
Germany, France and other EU states failed to persuade Viktor Orbán’s
government on Monday to approve the latest EU sanctions package and a loan
meant to help Kyiv meet its military and financial needs. Poland’s prime
minister, Donald Tusk, described Hungary’s actions as “political sabotage”.
“The row threatens to overshadow a carefully choreographed display of
solidarity between Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and his key
European partners. Senior politicians are expected to visit Kyiv on Tuesday,
including the British foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, and the European
commission president, Ursula von der Leyen.
“For all the noise in world affairs today, this war remains the most critical
issue of our age,” the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, said. “It asks the
question of whether Ukrainian and European freedom will endure. Our answer,
together, is unequivocal. Russia is not winning this war. They will not win
this war.”
The UK would stand by Ukraine’s side until “a just and lasting peace – and
beyond”, Starmer added.
The anniversary follows a brutal and freezing winter in which Russia has
systematically dismantled Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with drone and
ballistic missile attacks, leaving millions without power. Kyiv, Odesa and
Kharkiv have been badly affected.
Despite worsening conditions for civilians, the mood in the capital is
surprisingly upbeat. In interviews this week Zelenskyy insisted Ukraine was
“definitely not losing”. Since late January his armed forces have recaptured
400 sq km in the south of the country.
A further round of peace talks are expected to take place in Geneva later this
week, Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Zelenskyy’s office, indicated. Budanov
admitted it was no secret the negotiations with Russia, brokered by the US,
“aren’t going smoothly”. “We are clearly moving forward,” he said.
So far, the Kremlin has refused to modify its original maximalist demands. It
wants Ukraine to hand over the entire Donbas region, including areas Russia
does not control. Zelenskyy has ruled this out, despite coming under pressure
from Donald Trump’s envoys to agree.
Speaking to the
BBC, Zelenskyy said giving up Donetsk oblast would mean
“abandoning hundreds of thousands of our people who live there”. He suggested
Putin had “already started world war three”, adding: “The question is how much
territory he [Putin] will be able to seize and how to stop him.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
