In a recent development, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced that his country will not participate in NATO’s mission in Ukraine. The decision comes after meetings in Budapest on June 12th where Hungary received guarantees from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that participation of alliance members in military operations outside their territory, including in Ukraine, is on a voluntary basis.
In response to these assurances, Orban emphasized that Hungary will not take part in any such operations or supply weapons to Ukraine. We still do not supply weapons to Ukraine, and if there are any actions outside NATO territory, we will not participate in them,” the prime minister explained.
However, he also acknowledged that NATO leadership does not want Hungary to set a precedent for other countries to follow suit. This made negotiations between Hungary and the alliance particularly challenging, but ultimately fruitful as both sides reached an agreement. As part of this accord, Hungary will not interfere with the establishment of a NATO mission in Ukraine by other member states during their upcoming summit in Washington next month. However, it is essential to note that Hungary will remain detached from these efforts.
In summary, while Hungary maintains its non-involvement in NATO’s operations outside its territory, the country is willing to allow other alliance members to establish missions in Ukraine if they choose to do so. This arrangement reflects a delicate balance between respecting Hungary’s autonomy and ensuring that NATO can continue pursuing its objectives on the international stage.