Budapest will not obstruct NATO military aid to Ukraine, as it has done with EU efforts, but it will not help.
Hungary has agreed not to block NATO military aid to Ukraine, but it will not help either, says the head of the military alliance.
Following meetings with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters in Budapest on Wednesday that he “accepts” the Central European country’s position not to participate in NATO’s efforts to Ukraine.
Orban, seen as the EU leader closest to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has persistently obstructed the bloc’s efforts to supply weapons and financing to Kiev.
“No Hungarian personnel will participate in these activities and no Hungarian funds will be used to support them,” Stoltenberg said.
“At the same time, the Prime Minister assured me that Hungary will not oppose these efforts, allowing other allies to move forward, and confirmed that Hungary will continue to fully comply with its NATO commitments,” he added.
The NATO chief said he and Orban had “agreed on modalities for Hungary’s non-participation in NATO support for Ukraine,” but did not provide details.
Consensus
This year, Stoltenberg announced that NATO is trying to secure long-term arms deliveries to Kiev and establish a 100 billion euro ($108 billion) fund to pay for them.
However, Hungary was quick to express its opposition.
The alliance hopes to seal an agreement on the proposals at a summit next month, and NATO decisions require consensus among its 32 members.
Western governments have been unhappy with some of Hungary’s positions since the start of the war in Ukraine, including its refusal to adhere to some European Union sanctions against Russia or to send arms shipments to Ukraine.
Nationalist-populist Orban has said he does not want to allow “geopolitical tensions” surrounding the war to have a negative impact on Hungary’s relations with Russia, which include strong energy ties.
Wednesday’s meeting came amid efforts by Western allies to mobilize better support for Ukraine, both diplomatically and militarily.
The United States is planning a summit in Washington, D.C., next month, at which its fellow NATO members are expected to agree on a roadmap for providing long-term assistance and military training to the Ukrainian military.
During a joint press conference with the presidents of Latvia and Poland in the Latvian capital Riga on Tuesday, Stoltenberg said he wants NATO allies to commit to a “long-term financial commitment” to Ukraine.
The military alliance has provided about 40 billion euros ($43 billion) annually since the Russian invasion in February 2022.
“We must maintain this level of support as long as necessary,” Stoltenberg said. “Credible, long-term support sends a clear message to President Putin that he cannot wait for us.”
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
