“He held us hostage for a long time”—Orbán’s EU colleagues bid him farewell at EU summit he skipped

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal criticized Viktor Orbán for holding the EU hostage, particularly regarding Ukraine's loan and sanctions. Other leaders echoed this sentiment, expressing relief at the absence of Orbán and the hope for a more unified EU. They acknowledged past challenges but anticipated easier decision-making moving forward. Concerns about the potential for continued difficulties with new leadership were also raised.