HUNGARIAN Prime Minister Viktor Orban has cast doubt over the prospect of the European Union beginning negotiations any time soon for Ukraine to join the bloc.

The Hungarian leader said today it was unrealistic to launch the accession process with a country that’s at war.

Speaking to state radio, Mr Orban said the Hungarian parliament would have to give the go-ahead to Ukraine, but “when I’m in the chamber, I don’t feel the insurmountable desire for the Hungarian parliament to vote for Ukraine’s membership of the European Union.”

Ukraine was officially granted EU candidate status last year and the European council is expected to begin negotiations with Kiev on accession in December.

But Mr Orban said the EU “will have to answer very long and difficult questions until we get to the point where we can even decide whether to start negotiations.”

He added: “Can we start negotiations with a country that is in a territorial war? To admit a country without knowing its parameters would be unprecedented.”

Last Monday, Mr Orban told the Hungarian parliament that his government would “not support Ukraine on any international issue” until the language rights of the Hungarian minority in western Ukraine are restored.