Prime Minister of Hungary confirms that he will block the rapprochement of Ukraine with the EU and NATO
The Hungarian government will not give up its intentions to block Ukraine’s integration into the EU and NATO if Kyiv does not change its law on education, as stated by the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán, the text of whose speech was made public on the website of the Hungarian government.
“I would like to assure Transcarpathian Hungarians that no matter where the wind blows, the Hungarian government will not give up its position. We will resolutely defend it, not only here or in Kyiv, but also in the EU. And if you follow the latest developments – including those in NATO and the EU – you can see effects of principal actions by Hungarian diplomats,” said the head of the Hungarian government.
Orban’s statement came after it became known that Budapest had confirmed its threats to block Ukraine's initiatives in NATO.
He also confirmed Hungary’s intentions to block the rapprochement of Ukraine with the EU and NATO, which until now have only been expressed by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjaro.
According to the Prime Minister of Hungary, Ukraine’s ability to join the EU is, for now, limited. “It wants to stay off to the side from the EU, and then expects something from the EU. The truth is, if it expects something from the EU, it must adopt certain basic norms of the community,” said Orban, saying that among the fundamental norms of the EU is the requirement to not reduce the rights of national minorities.
“We do not accept any debate as to whether or not the new Ukrainian law corresponds to existing or hypothetical European norms. We are not concerned with this debate, because the EU has not developed standards that offer a set of objective criteria,” said Orban.
Earlier, Orban said that a favorable decision by the Venice Commission regarding the Ukrainian law on education will not remove the claims of Budapest to Kyiv.
Last week, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze said that NATO is concerned about Hungary’s intentions and actions regarding Ukraine.