Hungary withheld vote for EU Ukraine training mission
Hungary’s government does not back a proposal for the European Union to start a training mission for the Ukrainian army as this would risk escalating the war, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, on Monday in Luxembourg, where he noted that he lawfully made himself absent from the vote, the only EU member state representative to do so.
The minister noted that his absence had not prevented the proposal from being approved, but Hungary does not want to contribute to the costs of the operation.
“Anything leading to escalation is not something we think is a good idea,” he said during a break of the meeting of EU foreign ministers, adding that central Europe risked being dragged into the conflict as a result.
The question of whether shipments or troop linked to the mission may transit Hungarian territory will always be decided on an individual basis, he said.
Szijjártó noted that for the sixth time, the bloc is regrouping 500 million euros from a European peace fund to partially finance arms shipments to Ukraine.
“Hungary has also contributed to this funding, but … I cannot guarantee that this will be the case next time,” he said, adding that since the fund also financed various important missions connected with challenges from the south, a lack of money for such purposes could be deeply problematic.
“Hungary contributes tens of millions of euros to the European Peace Framework … [yet] Hungary is not doing enough to help Ukraine,” according to some European politicians, he said.
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The minister said no one at the meeting had used the word “peace”, and the atmosphere had been “quite combative”, adding that emphasis should be given to the need for peace rather than using escalatory rhetoric.
He urged communication channels to be kept open since a diplomatic settlement would be lost without them.
“Our top priority is to ensure the safety of Hungary and the Hungarian people,” he said.
“Regrettably, there was much talk of sanctions,” he said. “Some leaders don’t want to acknowledge the facts”, he said, insisting that punitive action had not swiftly ended the war but led instead to economic hardship in Europe.
Referring to the Nord Stream gas pipeline explosions, he qualified the attack as a “shocking terrorist act”, and he said the EU should consider any potential sabotage against the Turkish Stream pipeline as a terrorist attack.
On the topic of Europe-China relations, Szijjártó said attempts were under way to “undermine bilateral cooperation”, and this may lead to “serious economic hardship”. He stressed the need for “pragmatic, rational, mutually beneficial cooperation” with China.
Read alsoHungary keeping Kyiv embassy open
Source: MTI
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8 Comments
This is a war of aggression, Ukraine did nothing to deserve this, no matter what twisted Russian bots say.
Everyone sees through the false statements of the “Hungarian government.” Hungary supports Russia. Hungary will not do anything to help the European community unless there is money to skim off the top. Hungary will complain about a monument being removed, but not about the devastation currently committed by a madman in the Kremlin. We have to ask, why?
Peace should happen when Russia agrees to the war reparations the Ukrainians demand.
Shameful and embarrassing to be a Hungarian nowadays.
I wonder who is escalating this war? Couldn’t that country be Russia? Hungary’s abstention is it’s right. But solidarity in this situation is certainly needed . But in this situation, Europa does not need Hungary. But to get money from Europe, Hungary does expect solidarity from the other 26 states. Wait and see.
It is 1956 in Ukraine. Wake up. . . .
Zelensky could have avoided he war by signing the peace pact in April. All Zelensky had to do to delay joining NATO until thing worked out between Russia and Ukraine. Most people are not a fan of President Putin and that includes me. There is such thing is truth. Anyone supplying weapons to Ukraine or help training Ukrainian soldiers is escalating the war.
What has Zelensky achieved so far, death, destruction and an exodus of Ukrainian citizens. Presently, the V4 countries are paying a high price by looking after Ukrainian refugees. It is time Ukraine started paying for the keep of Ukrainian citizens. That may put pressure on warmonger Zelensky to start dialogue on immediate cease fire, and future peace. The people of Ukraine, the people of Russia, the people of EU (who are coping with high inflation because of the war) deserve better.
Can’t help but disagree with TIBOR.
I am proud of being a Hungarian and living in Hungary. Moreover, Hungary doesn’t support Russia, Hungary simply thinks about its people and country in all regards.
This is very interesting to read. While Hungary insists that land it lost 100 years ago is still theirs, they condone Russia grabbing parts of Ukraine in the east and Crimea. Ukraine was never part of Russia in modern times, never. You can’t have it both ways. Maybe Putin promised Victor that he would let him have the “Hungarian” part of Ukraine once he conquered it. Maybe Victor lives under the same delusion that Putin has that he has a manifest destiny to return Hungary to it’s 100 years ago borders. Either way, the “peace” agreement in April would have given Russia a prize for its war crimes. NOW they are loosing badly and Victor is screeching for “peace talks”. It is all so obvious. It is 1956 in Ukraine and Hungary is turning its back on Ukraine. Another bad choice in the history of Hungary,
this is all western war mongering. Leftists globalists degenerates expanding Kalergi plan and LGBTQ degeneracy. Luckily, we have Russia to stop them, if not with conventional army, then with nuclear bombs.
for all the leftists degenerates comenting here, Russia will defend Novorossya and Crimea till the end, of course NATO is giving all the support to degenerate Ukraine but have no doubt that Russia will use their most powerful resource, the nuclear one. After that, say goodbye to life in planet earth. It’s gonna happen thanks to the western leftists rusophobic haters.