Hungarian PM unveils NATO plans

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that NATO plans to create three big military bases on the territory of its member states, from which it will supply weapons to Ukraine.

Orban made these remarks on the Kossuth radio.

He noted that NATO wants to help Ukraine by creating the so-called Ukrainian NATO mission.

“This means that NATO will coordinate the transfer of weapons to Ukraine. The weapons will be transferred to Ukraine from those three big bases,” he added.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Orbán in Budapest on June 12 to discuss preparations for the Washington Summit.

Mr Stoltenberg commended Hungary’s commitment to Allied security, including its leadership of a NATO multinational battlegroup; its hosting of military headquarters, including Multinational Division Centre; and its contributions to the KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. He further welcomed that since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Hungary has provided shelter for Ukrainian refugees and helped to rehabilitate wounded Ukrainian soldiers.

“All of this contributes to our shared security, and I welcome your statement that you will remain a dedicated and loyal NATO Ally,” he said.

Mr Stoltenberg underlined that when Allies meet at the Washington Summit in July, he expects them to agree on a leading role for NATO in coordinating and providing security assistance and training for Ukraine, as well as a long-term financial pledge to provide military support.