Hungary will not send arms or troops to Ukraine or join a €90bn Kiev loan, Anita Orban says, tying EU support to strict conditions.
Hungary will not send weapons or troops to Ukraine and will not take part in a €90 billion loan program for Kiev, according to Anita Orban, the country’s incoming foreign minister, as reported by Index.
She also said Hungary’s new leadership would not support Ukraine’s accession to the European Union unless specific conditions are met.
According to Orban, Ukraine’s EU bid should be assessed only on the basis of real merit, strict requirements and clear guarantees. She named respect for the rights of Hungarians living in Transcarpathia as one of the key conditions. At the same time, she stressed that the issue must not be turned into a political farce.
Orban also argued that in recent years Hungary has too often been treated by the European Union not as a full partner, but rather as a pawn. In her view, this has weakened the country’s position within the bloc. The new government, she said, intends to build its foreign policy around security, fairness and influence.
Anita Orban’s expected appointment as Hungary’s foreign minister became known in late April. Peter Magyar, leader of the Tisa party that won the parliamentary elections, announced the decision.
Ukrainian authorities had reportedly sought to see Magyar replace Viktor Orban as Hungary’s prime minister, hoping he would follow a pro-Ukrainian course.