(MENAFN) Hungary's Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, has recently announced that his country will not be pushed into providing arms to Ukraine, despite the European Union's pressure campaign against Budapest. The European Union's foreign and defense ministers reportedly agreed to a USD2 billion ammunition deal for Ukraine, which will include roughly USD1 billion to purchase artillery ammunition from member states' already depleted stockpiles and another billion to purchase 155-millimeter shells on the open market. However, Szijjarto has expressed his concerns over the pressure being put on his country, stating that he will not allow anyone to push Hungary into war.
Szijjarto attended the European Union's meeting in Brussels on Monday, where he discussed this issue with other European Union officials. He further elaborated on his concerns on his Facebook page, stating that "another war party proposal is on the table," referring to the European Union's decision to send ammunition to Ukraine. He believes that the pressure is constantly increasing on Hungary, but he has made it clear that his country will not be pushed into war.
The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, has emphasized the importance of reaching an agreement on this matter, stating that "otherwise, we will be in difficulty in order to continue supplying arms to Ukraine." Borrell and other European Union officials have repeatedly called on member states to boost their industrial capacity to meet Ukraine's demands. Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton has even suggested that the European Union should "move to a wartime economy model," indicating the urgency of the situation.
Despite the EU's efforts to provide military support to Ukraine, Hungary's stance on this issue remains firm. Szijjarto's comments reflect Hungary's commitment to maintaining its independence and sovereignty in foreign affairs, even in the face of pressure from the European Union. The situation highlights the complexities of the European Union's foreign policy and the challenges it faces in maintaining unity among its member states.
MENAFN21032023000045014146ID1105829461
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.