Ireland hopes new Budapest government will facilitate Ukraine's EU membership

Added: 2026-05-13

[00:00:00]Coming up, we'll be joined by Thomas Burn, the Irish Minister for Defense and European Affairs. As Ireland prepares to take over the presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Fenavale politician is in Brussels today to join EU defense ministers for more talks on how to support Ukraine and to boost European security. That's all in a context of an uncertain Middle East with President Trump stating that the ceasefire with Iran is on quote life support. Good morning, Minister. Great.

[00:00:27]>> Morning, Mave. How are you?

[00:00:28]>> Good. So look, you'll be meeting defense ministers today. You'll be joined by the Ukrainian defense minister. Should we expect anything concrete?

[00:00:35]>> Well, look, I think we will be discussing lots of issues in the defense sphere. We had the discussion yesterday at the foreign affairs council on Ukraine as well. I think Ukraine is very very strong and forward in people's minds in Europe. So the question is how do we best help Ukraine? Uh whether it's provision of military material, uh whether it is uh through sanctions on Russia, whether it is through peace talks or indeed the enlargement of the European Union. And I think there are so many uh different avenues for us to help Ukraine and to end this war.

[00:01:02]>> And on sanctions against Russia, a 21st package is being written as we speak.

[00:01:06]Something you'll probably have to push through during your presidency. Will it work though these sanctions?

[00:01:10]>> Well, look, we've achieved a huge amount. Um we have unonymity requirements for sanctions and we've got through 20 packages. So, we'll do another package. We certainly hope and work is ongoing in relation to that.

[00:01:20]Those sanctions have had an impact on the Russian economy. Quite a significant impact on the Russian economy. They clearly haven't ended the war, but we I think we need to continue putting the pressure on Russia and indeed on its people in order that they can somehow put pressure on Vladimir Putin.

[00:01:35]>> And this is the issue. The war is still ongoing. Some are floating the idea of potentially speaking to Russia, a conversation that's been going on for many, many months now. What is Ireland's view here?

[00:01:43]>> Well, look, we we support continued sanctions. Uh we support the enlargement of the EU to include Ukraine. And we've also supported when individual leaders have contacted Vladimir Putin in the past. Uh we think it is important to to to allow that dialogue to take place if it's going to end the war.

[00:01:58]>> Is it time for a special envoy, an appointee?

[00:02:00]>> Well, look, I mean that's that's for a consideration for another day and that's a Vladimir Putin's suggestion uh this week. So I don't think I'm going to lean into that. Uh I think the focus has to be to support Ukraine. We have peace talks which the Americans have been facilitating and we've been very supportive of those peace talks. Uh and if there were to be a place for the European Union, I think we'd be supportive of that as well. But of course coming into presidency mode, Ireland of course has to take into account the views of the member states and of course Kai Kalis and Antonio Costa make uh you know get the consensus of the member states on on foreign policy issues.

[00:02:32]>> And on cons consensus there was one move uh last night here in Brussels regarding uh sanctions against settlers in the West Bank. This was allowed of course because the new change of government in Hungary. Will these have much of an impact though on the ground? Well, look, I think it's very very welcome that Hungary has changed its position on this and that you have all the member states of the European Union agreeing on this.

[00:02:50]I think this is a step forward. I think there is more that we can do uh to help people in Palestine, but I think this is very very welcomed. Nobody disagrees with this now around the European table.

[00:02:59]Um I think it does send a message to people the European Union is responding is responding to genuinely serious concerns that people have.

[00:03:06]>> And what else could change now that there's a new government in Hungary?

[00:03:09]Well, look, we we await discussions with them, but I mean, obviously, the Hungarian government up to now has blocked the uh opening of accession talks formally with Ukraine. That's something that we'd like to see changed.

[00:03:19]Uh they obviously have to negotiate a significant amount of money uh to be paid into Hungary that they would would have been entitled to h but for the actions of their previous government.

[00:03:28]So, I think there's a lot of work going to happen in relation to that in the next few weeks and months.

[00:03:32]>> And just a final question, the Eurovision is starting of course tonight. You won't be watching. Ireland is boycotting the music festival. Are you disappointed other countries didn't join in your boycott?

[00:03:40]>> It's not a matter for the government. Um RTE has taken that decision themselves.

[00:03:44]People in Ireland can watch BBC and other channels as well with if they if they wish to watch it watch it. This is a decision that RT has taken.

[00:03:50]>> Do you support it?

[00:03:50]>> Uh we look we don't get involved. We're not hungry. We don't get involved in telling the the media what to do in Ireland. So I think it's important that they have their independence. They've decided this independently and that's the decision for them to take uh in relation to their audience. uh the independence of RTE I think is something that has been critical and central to our democracy over the decades.

[00:04:08]>> Okay, Minister Lisburn, thank you so much for coming into us and best of luck with your long day of talks.