Hungary will not support the launch of European Union (EU) accession talks with Ukraine as long as a national government is in power, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Monday.
Responding to questions in parliament, Szijjarto said the chance for Ukraine’s EU bid to symbolize peace has passed, and that Hungary continues to veto the talks over concerns about European security, the economy, and labor markets.
“As long as I serve as foreign minister and Viktor Orban is prime minister, Ukraine’s accession chapters will not begin,” he said, adding that Budapest faces intense pressure from Brussels.
He also criticized the EU’s “war-oriented strategy,” pointing to plans for major financial aid to Kiev’s military and government. Hungary, he said, will resist any attempt to use Hungarian taxpayers’ money to fund the conflict.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Istvan Nagy said in Luxembourg that Hungary will maintain its national ban on Ukrainian agricultural imports, accusing Brussels of prioritizing Ukrainian interests over those of EU farmers.
Nagy warned that recent EU-Ukraine trade arrangements, including high import quotas and zero tariffs on products such as honey, poultry, and grain, threaten Europe’s agricultural sector.
Hungary, Slovakia and Romania have submitted a joint letter to the EU Council seeking protective measures for farmers in border regions. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
Share Us
