German Chancellor and Hungarian Prime Minister Clash at EU Summit

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during the European Union summit held in Copenhagen yesterday, according to Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the situation.

The "clash" reportedly occurred during discussions on how the EU could strengthen its defense and support Ukraine. "Friedrich Merz took a critical approach to Viktor Orbán at the EU leaders' meeting in Copenhagen on Wednesday, accusing the Hungarian Prime Minister of disrupting discussions on the alliance's security," the report states.

According to the authors, the dispute is another sign of dissatisfaction with Orbán within the European Union. As Bloomberg notes, the Hungarian Prime Minister has frequently used his veto power to suspend sanctions against Russia and opposes Ukraine's EU membership.

Just before the EU summit, Viktor Orbán announced that he anticipated a "caged fight" during the informal meeting in Copenhagen, as other countries have been regularly pressuring Budapest on the issue of Ukraine.