Hungary sees limited room to help Ukraine in conflict with Russia

As the world watches with growing concern the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, a number of countries have come forth supporting Ukraine with material donations or offers of cyber support and training. Hungary’s Foreign Minister called for a diplomatic solution and noted that Ukraine’s minority policies leave little room for Hungary to help its neighbor. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is scheduled to meet Russia’s Vladimir Putin next week.

World leaders are in talks with Russia to de-escalate the conflict Moscow has with Ukraine. Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops along its border with Ukraine, ramping up tensions in a conflict that has dragged on since 2014. The United States and Russia have held several rounds of discussions aimed at alleviating Ukraine tensions, but so far to no avail. Even though U.S. President Joe Biden ruled out U.S. military intervention in Ukraine in the event of a Russian attack, he threatened to impose tougher sanctions than ever before and pledged to supply the Ukrainian military with weapons. Washington recently announced that it was evacuating the families of its diplomats from Ukraine, and advised US citizens to leave the country. Meanwhile, NATO member states are boosting their military presence in Eastern Europe and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stressed that “NATO will continue to take all necessary measures to protect and defend all allies.”

Hungarian response
Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated this week that Hungary classifies Ukraine as a country with an increased security risk and advises Hungarian citizens to avoid traveling to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of the country. The Ministry urged Hungarian citizens to apply extra measures of precaution when traveling to Ukraine given the current situation. The Ministry does not plan to evacuate its employees from Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said praised Hungary’s bilateral relations with Russia and noted that Ukraine’s anti-minority policies severely limit the Hungarian government’s potential assistance in the conflict with Russia. Speaking in an interview with daily newspaper Magyar Nemzet, the minister stressed that good relations with Russia are in Hungary’s interest and added that Hungary stands to profit from ties with Moscow. He listed the country’s long-term gas purchase agreement, the purchase of Sputnik vaccines and the swift evacuation of Hungarians from Kazakhstan during recent demonstrations there as examples. “Hungary’s interest is clearly to maintain a pragmatic, normal relationship with the Russians based on mutual respect,” Szijjártó said.
The minister used strong words about Ukraine’s treatment of minorities, including a large number of Hungarians living in Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region. “Hungarians in Transcarpathia have only received deprivation of rights, provocation, and in many cases, physical intimidation,” Szijjártó said. “If Ukrainians don’t back down from these policies, that will severely limit the Hungarian government’s ability to provide any kind of support to Ukraine.”
The Hungarian government has made several gestures towards Ukraine, but received nothing in return, the Foreign Minister noted, adding that Hungary has “tried everything” to settle the situation in this regard with little success so far.
Szijjártó urged all stakeholders to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict through negotiations. The Foreign Minister claimed that while rhetoric is warlike out in the public, there are “fair and sometimes cordial” negotiations going on between Americans and Russians behind the scenes.

Orbán to meet Putin
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is scheduled to meet with Vladimir Putin on February 1 in Moscow where the two leaders will discuss the Paks 2 nuclear power plant project, the extension of Hungary’s natural gas supply contract, and the production of Russia’s Sputnik vaccine in Hungary. The Russian president and the Hungarian prime minister last met in Budapest in 2019.
Hungarian opposition parties called on Orbán to cancel his Moscow visit in light of the unfolding Russia-Ukraine crisis. In a joint statement, the opposition alliance argued that the Prime Minister’s friendly meeting with President Putin is particularly damaging to Hungary and contrary to national interests against the backdrop of the escalating crisis. The visit will send a message that NATO and EU member states are not united in rejecting Putin’s proposals, according to the statement.