Zelenskyy urges Hungary: Simply don’t block Ukraine’s NATO bid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine and Hungary are collaborating on an agreement that will address security concerns and Ukraine's potential membership in the North Atlantic Alliance.

He noted that the agreement aims to “eliminate misunderstandings and respond to current, past, and future challenges”, Caliber.Az reports via Ukrainian media.

Zelenskyy specified that the treaty will resolve issues related to Hungarian national minorities in Ukraine, expressing that Kyiv views the document “very favourably.”

Security considerations will be a crucial component of the agreement, he added.

“The least we expect from Hungary is not to obstruct Ukraine’s NATO invitation. We are not asking them to support or vote for us, just not to block us,” Zelenskyy explained.

A meeting of ambassadors and defence attachés from NATO member states took place in Budapest on October 30 to discuss Hungary’s policy of “economic neutrality.” Notably, Hungarian representatives did not attend.

According to US media, Hungarian officials ignored an invitation to discuss their country's approach to strengthening ties with Russia and China.

US Ambassador to Budapest David Pressman commented, “We appreciate the opportunity to discuss Hungary's new policy with our allies. The necessity of addressing an ally's ‘neutrality’ policy speaks volumes.”

A NATO diplomat, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed that Hungary's recent actions and rhetoric are “deeply troubling.”

“Wednesday's meeting was a valuable chance for Hungary to clarify its position to allies, but they were absent from the conversation,” the diplomat added.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been advocating for the concept of “economic neutrality,” which signifies a departure from traditional Western alignment. He and his officials have travelled to Russia for discussions with President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Earlier this year, Orban stated that Hungary aimed to “rethink” its NATO status due to the alliance's support for Ukraine.

Concerns regarding the Hungarian government's stance towards NATO have led to restrictions on information sharing, including intelligence exchanges, with Hungary.

Previously, Orban claimed that Kyiv and Brussels were attempting to embroil Europe in a war with Russia by extending an invitation to Ukraine for NATO membership. He voiced that Budapest is opposed to such a scenario. According to Orban, Zelenskyy’s “victory plan” aims to escalate the conflict, invite Ukraine into NATO, and shift hostilities towards Russia.

“In the last 70 years, we have never been as close to a new world war as we are now,” he stated.

Notably, on October 30, the European Commission announced that Ukraine had “fulfilled all the necessary steps” outlined in its 2022 conclusion regarding candidate status as part of the EU accession process.

This was highlighted in the EC's draft report on Ukraine, part of the “enlargement package,” which was reviewed by journalists.

The document commends Ukraine's efforts regarding the rights of national minorities, even as Hungary views Ukraine's progress as insufficient. For instance, the EC praised the amendments to minority legislation made in December 2023, reaffirming its support for Ukrainian law, even in the absence of an assessment by the Venice Commission.

“Although we recognize that the Venice Commission has not updated its recommendations, the European Commission believes that Ukraine has implemented the necessary measures,” the report stated.

By Tamilla Hasanova