According to Josep Borell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, since Hungary “pays its own share,” the country therefore, “participates in Ukraine’s arms supply,” despite the fact that it “does not allow the transit of arms shipments directly to Ukraine.”
Previously, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Viktor Orbán for not letting weapons through Hungary. He said: “Listen, Viktor, do you know what’s going on in Mariupol? And you hesitate whether to impose sanctions or not? And you hesitate whether to let weapons through or not? And you hesitate whether to trade with Russia or not? There is no time to hesitate. It’s time to decide already.”
Orbán’s press chief also said before that, Zelenksyy’s first request was that Hungary should support the extension of sanctions to the energy sector and stop buying gas and oil from Russia. His second request, according to Orbán, was that Hungary should allow arms shipments and send weapons [directly] to Ukraine, which the Orbán government refused to do.
Meanwhile, one of the cornerstones of the ruling parties’ campaign was accusing the opposition alliance of planning to deliver weapons to Ukraine in case they won the election.
However, the situation is more complicated.
According to a government decree, non-lethal equipment, such as protective equipment, medical equipment, and fuel are allowed to pass directly through Hungary’s borders to Ukraine, but others are not. They are still allowed to be transported indirectly to Ukraine, in which case Hungary can be one of the countries through which they are sent.
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said that as a result of the unanimous vote of the member states, the European Union supports the weapons shipment to Ukraine with the consent of its member states. This includes Hungary as well, so Hungary is taking part in helping Ukraine weaponize itself in fighting Russian aggression.
As Borrell said:
It’s one thing for Hungary not to let weapons through its territory directly to Ukraine, but it pays its share, so it participates in Ukraine’s arms supply,”
he said.
Whereas the government backs fresh European Union support of 500 million euros for the Ukrainian army, Hungary is maintaining its policy of refusing to supply arms to Ukraine, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in the Czech Republic on Tuesday.
Featured image: Josep Borell addresses the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg on April 6, 2022. Photo by MTI/APA
