Hungary issues ultimatum on military aid to Ukraine

The warning came after Hungary blocked a new 500 million euro ($544 million) military aid package from the European Peace Fund (EPF).

The decision to block the eighth aid package from the 5.6 billion euro ($6.08 billion) fund, which finances foreign militaries and reimburses members for sending weapons to conflicts abroad, was explained by Hungary's foreign minister as being due to "Kiev's increasingly hostile attitude towards Budapest".

Before Russia launched a special military operation against Ukraine in late February last year, the EPF was only used to provide non-lethal equipment to Georgia, Mali, Moldova, Mozambique and Ukraine – for a total of less than $125 million.

After the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out, the fund transferred the majority of its aid to Ukraine, with seven consecutive packages approved.

"To be fair, we have had enough," RT quoted Mr. Szijjarto as saying at a press conference in Vienna, Austria, on May 17.

Quốc gia EU nói “gắt” về viện trợ quân sự cho Ukraine - Ảnh 1.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. Photo: Anadolu

Also at the press conference, Minister Szijjarto pointed out a number of outstanding issues between Budapest and Kiev - including Ukraine's decision to add Hungary's largest lender OTP Bank Nyrt to its list of "international war sponsors" because OTP Bank Nyrt maintains business ties with Russia.

"OTP Bank Nyrt does not violate any laws in Ukraine, does not violate any international laws, nor does it violate any sanctions," the Hungarian Foreign Minister stressed and asserted. "As long as Kiev keeps OTP Bank Nyrt on the list of international war sponsors, Budapest cannot support decisions that require new economic and financial sacrifices from the EU and its member states."

Other issues listed by Hungary's top diplomat included recent reports that President Volodymyr Zelensky's administration was planning to blow up an oil pipeline connecting Russia to Hungary through Ukrainian territory, as well as Kiev's restrictions on education for ethnic Hungarians living in Ukraine.

"Kiev's restrictions on the education of ethnic Hungarians have been a major problem in bilateral relations for many years," Szijjarto added. Budapest believes that the rights of ethnic Hungarians have been violated, while Kiev has repeatedly accused Budapest of interfering in its internal affairs, including the issuance of passports to ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine.

Hungary has a neutral stance on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, refusing to provide military aid to Kiev or allow transit from its territory.

Budapest has also consistently opposed EU anti-Russian sanctions, especially those that could affect Hungary's own economy, including its nuclear and conventional energy sectors.

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