War, Change of Course, Continuity Hungary's Ukraine and Russia Policy

With Hungary's approval, Ukraine was declared a candidate for EU membership on June 23, 2022. This marked a change of course for Budapest. Due to bilateral conflicts with Kyiv, Budapest had previously blocked all of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic ambitions. Hungary's Ukraine policy remains in flux. Irrespective of the war, Hungary continues to pursue its "opening to the East" towards Russia. This strategy aims to expand economic cooperation. Hungary has so far supported the EU sanctions against Russia, but Viktor Orban makes no secret of the fact that he opposes them. Domestically, Orban has used the war to consolidate his power.