FM Szijjártó: Ukraine’s EU bid would drag Hungary into conflict

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has publicly stated that Hungary is the key obstacle to Ukraine’s European Union membership, casting the upcoming parliamentary elections as a decisive choice between peace and involvement in war.

In a Facebook post, Szijjártó referenced an interview given by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Szibiha, noting that while Szibiha has often criticised Hungary, one comment in the interview aligned with Hungary’s position. Szijjártó wrote:

“Ukraine said it itself: Hungary is the only obstacle to Ukraine joining the EU.”

He argued that as long as the current Hungarian government remains in power, Ukraine will not enter the European Union.

Szijjártó cited several potential consequences he said would follow Ukraine’s accession, including dragging Hungary into the conflict, diverting European and Hungarian funds to Ukraine, and harming local farmers with Ukrainian agricultural exports. He added:

“As long as we are in government, none of this can happen.”

Szijjártó also warned that if the opposition “Tisza Party” were to win power, they would immediately green-light Ukraine’s EU accession, involve Hungary in the war, and send Hungarian money to Ukraine. He suggested that Ukraine has a vested interest in a Tisza Party victory.

Concluding his post, Szijjártó framed the 12 April elections in stark terms:

“The question on 12 April is: peace or war? Hungary or Ukraine?”

On January 23, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán pledged to prevent Ukraine from joining the European Union following an EU summit in Brussels.

Speaking at a press conference, Orbán criticised the EU for approving Ukraine’s $800 billion aid request, calling it “a nuclear-sized shock,” and accused Brussels of “pouring money into the war.” He stated Hungary would oppose both Kyiv’s accession and the EU budgets that fund Ukraine.

By Aghakazim Guliyev