Hungary bans Ukrainian farm imports and reverses ICC exit plan

Hungary has announced a dual policy shift, introducing a ban on agricultural imports from Ukraine while simultaneously reversing its earlier intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court.

Prime Minister Peter Magyar confirmed the decisions in a Facebook statement, outlining the government’s position on both issues. “The government is withdrawing Hungary’s intention to leave the International Criminal Court and is introducing a ban on the import of agricultural products from Ukraine,” he said.

No specific reasons were provided by the prime minister for either decision.

Hungary’s stance on the ICC marks a reversal of a move taken in April 2025, when the country’s parliament voted to exit the court’s jurisdiction during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At the time, an arrest warrant had been issued against Netanyahu on suspicion of war crimes in Gaza. Then-Prime Minister Viktor Orban described the withdrawal decision as firm and principled, accusing the court of being politicised, and Hungary declined to execute the arrest.

The newly announced import ban follows the lapse of a previous restriction introduced in April 2023, which expired on May 14, 2026, due to what was described as a procedural error by the new Hungarian government, according to Euractiv.

Agriculture Minister Szabolcs Bona attributed the error to the previous Orban administration and stressed that he would not allow Ukrainian imports to “threaten the livelihoods” of domestic farmers.

The renewed ban is expected to cover around 20 categories of agricultural products.

Hungary is not alone in adopting such measures, as Poland, Bulgaria, and Slovakia have also introduced restrictions on imports of Ukrainian agricultural goods.

By Tamilla Hasanova