Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó during a joint press conference in Budapest, Hungary, on September 8, 2025. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo
As reported by Facebook
Hungary announced a reorientation of European Peace Facility funds: roughly €1.5 million will go not to Ukraine but to Lebanon. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced these plans on November 14. According to him, the funds will be used to support stabilization initiatives in Lebanon, while Budapest will not use its share of the fund to supply arms to the Ukrainian army. This decision is explained by national security priorities and the desire to focus on supporting peace in the Middle East.
Hungary’s national security interests are peace in the Middle East. We will not use our share of the European Peace Facility to arm Ukraine
– Peter Szijjarto
Context of the decision and its consequences
Earlier, the minister also called for reviewing funding for Ukraine in light of reports of corruption in the energy sector. The government’s explanations indicate an attempt to redirect support in line with new priorities in security and stability in the region.
Additionally, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán commented on the corruption scandal at Ukraine’s Energoatom and said that it could influence Budapest’s decision on providing financial aid to Ukraine. Such assessments add context to the decision to use the Peace Fund and influence the joint positions of the two countries on the current issue.
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