Budapest: In a resolute statement provided to RIA Novosti, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto conveyed Hungary’s steadfast opposition to supplying arms to Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
“Hungary has never participated, nor will it ever participate, in endeavors aimed at furnishing arms to Ukraine. We firmly believe that escalating arms provisions to Ukraine will only exacerbate the conflict, leading to further devastation and loss of life,” Szijjarto asserted on Friday.
Emphasizing a crucial condition for Hungary’s endorsement of the European Union’s proposal to allocate 50 billion euros in aid to Ukraine, the Foreign Minister underscored the necessity to ensure that these funds would not be utilized for weapon deliveries.
Szijjarto elaborated that Budapest has obtained assurances from Brussels, guaranteeing that Hungarian contributions, currently withheld by the EU, would not be redirected to Ukraine. Furthermore, a transparent mechanism for monitoring the expenditure of the allocated funds directed to Ukraine is set to be established.
This proclamation follows the European Union leaders’ agreement in February to provide 50 billion euros in macro-financial assistance to Ukraine until 2027.
In the previous year, the EU’s financial aid to Ukraine amounted to 18 billion euros, disbursed in monthly installments of 1.5 billion euros. This assistance was extended to Kyiv irrespective of progress in implementing reforms or combating corruption.
