Hungary says it sees Ukraine as buffer zone between Russia and EU
Photo: Hungarian Minister for EU Affairs János Bóka (Getty Images)
Hungary says it sees Ukraine as a buffer zone that could be between Russia and the European Union, according to Financial Times.
Hungary’s Minister for EU Affairs, János Bóka, stated that the return of Donald Trump to the White House indicates that the European Union should no longer support Ukraine with weapons or funds.
"We do not see the security of Europe in the integration of Ukraine into defense systems, but we see the need for a buffer zone between Russia and European defense structures, which serves the interests of both Russia and Europe," Bóka said.
According to him, "Ukraine can only function as a buffer zone if there is a consensus among global actors on what is possible and what is not possible on the territory of Ukraine", meaning primarily the United States and Russia.
"Otherwise, it will be a conflict zone, not a buffer zone," he added.
He also argues that if the US or the EU do something in Ukraine without Putin's approval, it will become a source of conflict.
Hungary's position on Ukraine
Hungary is the main opponent of Ukraine's accession to the European Union. In particular, the Hungarian government is blocking Ukraine's membership process and the provision of military and other assistance.
Hungary is also constantly delaying the approval of EU sanctions against Russia, often imposing its own conditions. It is also interesting that EU member states are discussing the possibility of making decisions on Ukraine without Hungary's participation. So far, this issue is only at the stage of preliminary discussions.
According to Politico, the EU could deprive Hungary of its voting rights, but it does not want to publicly break the unity that such a move could provoke.
Recently, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán issued 12 demands to Brussels. One of them is the rejection of Ukraine's accession to the EU.
