Hungary opposes EU plan to restrict protection for Ukrainian men

Hungary opposes a European Union proposal that would deny temporary protection to Ukrainian men of military age who leave Ukraine without authorisation from Kyiv, Prime Minister Péter Magyar has stated.

The issue was raised at a parliamentary debate by László Toroczkai, leader of the Mi Hazánk party, who asked about the European Commission's proposal, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

Toroczkai argued that the Hungarian government should clearly state its position on the matter, noting that a large ethnic Hungarian community lives in Ukraine's Zakarpattia region and could be affected by the proposal.

Magyar replied that Toroczkai was "knocking on an open door," noting that the meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council had been public and that Hungarian Interior Minister Gábor Posfay had already stated there that Hungary does not support the European Commission's proposal.

Although the stricter rules are due to take effect in March 2027, Magyar said that, regardless of the final decision, Hungary would continue to grant asylum to "those who come to our country to avoid conscription."

He added that every ethnic Hungarian could count on the Tisza government, both in Hungary and abroad.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov