Hungary has announced that it will not be participating in NATO’s long-term plan to support Ukraine against Russia. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto referred to the mission as a “crazy endeavor,” despite facing pressure to join. The decision comes after NATO allies agreed in April to establish a $107 billion fund for a long-term military support plan for Ukraine, with NATO taking over coordination work from the US-led Ramstein group.
The Hungarian government spokesman, Zoltan Kovacs, also expressed opposition to NATO’s initiative, stating that Budapest does not support proposals that could potentially bring the alliance closer to conflict or transition it from a defensive to an offensive stance. This disagreement has further strained relations between Hungary and NATO.
Hungary’s delay in ratifying Sweden’s accession to NATO and Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s strong ties to Russia have also contributed to tensions. These issues have led to warnings from NATO about the risks of Hungary’s close relationship with Moscow and concerns about how this may impact Hungary’s security interests moving forward.
