Hungary’s foreign minister warned Thursday that granting Ukraine EU membership would bring “unacceptable risks” to the bloc, including a greater chance of being pulled closer to war with Russia.
Hungary wants good relations with all of its neighbors, including Ukraine, but bilateral ties with Ukraine are not in their best shape, said Peter Szijjarto, adding that "the responsibility for this lies entirely with Kyiv."
"It is not Hungary that endangers Ukraine’s energy security. It is not Hungary that tries to drag them into a war against their will. Still, we support positive steps that build trust," the top Hungarian diplomat said on X following his meeting with Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka in Budapest.
Recalling that he called on Ukraine "to stop the attacks against the Druzhba oil pipeline," which delivers oil to Hungary, Szijjarto said these strikes do not hurt Russia; they hurt Hungary, threatening its energy security.
"The Hungarian people have made a clear decision: Ukraine’s EU membership goes against Hungary’s economic and security interests," he added.
