As Hungary continues to support Moscow’s claims, Kiev has said Hungary will play a role if Budapest chooses to join the Russian-led bloc rather than Western institutions.
Ukraine has declared its readiness to join the European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Hungary’s behalf if Budapest wishes to join the Russian-led bloc.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Wednesday. Although this is clearly a joke, it reflects the serious tensions that have built up between Ukraine and Hungary, with Budapest supporting Moscow’s version of the war in Ukraine and thwarting efforts by Western institutions to support Kiev. are.
Kiev’s statement, which was also published in Said.
The latest manipulative statements by the Hungarian leadership regarding Ukraine’s decision not to extend transit agreements with aggressor Russia, which is said to have a negative impact on consumer prices, are part of a politically motivated information campaign. It’s part of pic.twitter.com/I6i76ezqsU
— Ukraine MFA🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) January 8, 2025
Kyiv supports Hungary’s membership in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) or the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and says it would “fill the vacant space in the EU and NATO if Hungary chooses to leave the EU and NATO”. I’m ready,” he said.
Both CIS and CSTO are alliances and political blocs closely aligned with Russia.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto had earlier accused Ukraine of exacerbating Europe’s economic challenges by refusing to renew a five-year transit gas deal with Russia. Budapest claims the measure has increased natural gas prices on the European market by 20%.
In contrast to other EU countries, Hungary has increased its imports of Russian gas since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
However, since Budapest receives Russian gas via the pipeline that runs under the Black Sea and via Turkiye, its supplies will not be affected by the suspension of the Ukrainian route.
The statement said Hungary’s claims about prices were “part of a politically motivated information campaign aimed at domestic consumption.”
Since the outbreak of all-out war between Russia and Ukraine nearly three years ago, the EU has sought to reduce Russia’s dependence on fossil fuels. However, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria remain highly dependent.
Hungary is considered the EU’s most pro-Moscow member state and has repeatedly opposed European military and financial aid to Ukraine. Some of the EU’s sanctions against Russia were also blocked or delayed.
Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to seek membership in the EU and NATO, and enjoys significant support within both blocs.
The Ukrainian side said, “If Hungary really wants to contribute to ending the war, it should start by working with other European countries and the United States to strengthen its energy security and the independence of its country and its people, without compromising the unity within the EU.” ” he said. said in a statement.
Amid the war, the Ukrainian military said Wednesday it had launched a night attack deep in Russia and set fire to an oil depot in the city of Engels, where Russian nuclear bombers are based.
