The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Peter Szijjarto, said on Wednesday that “under the current circumstances” the member states exclude Ukraine’s accession to NATO, reports the EFE agency, quoted by Agerpres.

“Allies have clearly said that in the current circumstances Ukraine’s accession to NATO is out of the question,” Minister Szijarto told the Hungarian press, speaking from Brussels, where he took part in a meeting of NATO foreign ministers.

“It became clear to everyone that Ukraine will not be invited to NATO either before the next summit or during the next summit” of the Alliance, he said, adding that it is normal that the country cannot become a member of the armed forces. alliances as long as he is involved in the war.

Szijjártó also spoke about tensions between his country and Ukraine, which he accuses of violating the rights of the Hungarian minority, which is estimated to number around 150,000.

Relations between Budapest and Kyiv have deteriorated sharply since the start of the Russian invasion, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi an “adversary” and his government the only EU and NATO member state to maintain close relations with Moscow.

In September, Orbán warned that Hungary would not support Ukraine at any international forum until the rights of the Hungarian minority in Zakarpattia region were restored.

Hungary also wants to block Ukraine’s accession to the EU

Earlier this month, Peter Szijjártó also said that Hungary also intends to block Ukraine’s entry into the European Union, his comment coming on the same day that the European Commission officially recommended the opening of accession talks with Kyiv as well as the Republic of Moldova.

“It is particularly obvious how Ukraine violates the most important rights of the EU in the matter of the rights of national minorities. And since, according to the EU’s assessment, Ukraine has not fulfilled the conditions for accession, we do not consider it expedient to advance further in the matter of accession negotiations with Ukraine,” said the head of Hungarian diplomacy.

Next month, the European Council will decide whether to start accession negotiations with Ukraine, which will require the unanimous support of 27 states.

“Any country that, first of all, made a conscious political decision to block the decision regarding Ukraine, will find a reason (for this),” said Minister of European Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna.

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