Hungary Says No to Arming Ukraine
During a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels, Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar declared that Hungary will not send weapons to Ukraine. He reassured that Hungary remains committed to being a reliable NATO member and will continue participating in the Alliance's peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. The discussions also covered preparations for the upcoming NATO summit, scheduled for July 7-8 in Ankara, and the escalating conflict in the Strait of Hormuz.
Magyar clearly stated Budapest's stance on military support for Ukraine, emphasizing that Hungary refuses to provide any arms or military equipment for the Russia-Ukraine war. At the same time, he confirmed that the Hungarian contingent will keep taking part in NATO's peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. Secretary General Rutte briefed the Hungarian leader on the summit planning, where current international issues are expected to be addressed.
Hungarian Minority Rights as a Precondition
Additionally, the Hungarian government stressed that a meeting between Magyar and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is only possible if Ukraine meets Budapest's demands regarding the rights of the Hungarian minority. As government officials stated,
“a personal meeting between Peter Magyar and Volodymyr Zelenskyy is possible if Ukraine fulfills the Hungarian side's requirements for resolving the situation of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine”— they said. Around 100,000 ethnic Hungarians live in Transcarpathia, who have been deprived of basic rights for years. Magyar insists that without resolving this issue, a full dialogue between Budapest and Kyiv is impossible.
Hungary's refusal to supply weapons to Ukraine highlights the complexity of diplomatic relations between Budapest and Kyiv, particularly regarding the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine. This could significantly affect cooperation between the two countries and overall regional security, given NATO's role in maintaining stability in Eastern Europe. A meeting between Magyar and Zelenskyy could become a key step toward normalizing ties, if a compromise is reached on the rights of Hungarians in Ukraine.
In light of Hungary's firm stance on military aid, the diplomatic landscape continues to evolve, particularly regarding the rights of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine. A potential meeting between Prime Minister Magyar and President Zelenskyy hinges on Ukraine addressing these minority rights. For more details on this precondition and its implications for bilateral relations, read our article on the conditions set for a meeting between the two leaders.