Hungary will not strip Ukrainian men of temporary protection, PM says
Photo: Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar (Getty Images)
The Hungarian government will continue to provide protection to men of conscription age fleeing Ukraine to Hungary. This particularly applies to ethnic Hungarians, according to Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar.
Magyar on protection for Ukrainian men of conscription age
Hungarian PM recalled that several weeks ago, the EU adopted a decision on temporary protection for Ukrainian men of conscription age. Under the new rules, they will be denied protection if they have issues with their military registration documents.
According to Magyar, Hungary voted against the decision.
"At the same time, the government decided yesterday that Hungary will act differently, ensuring that military-age men escaping to Hungary can also receive asylum status," he said.
Magyar said this primarily concerns ethnic Hungarians from Zakarpattia.
He noted that the number of such refugees is growing, particularly among Hungarians from Zakarpattia.
The politician said he considers the EU’s decision disgraceful and incomprehensible.
"It essentially locks fathers and grandfathers inside a country at war and leaves them without aid, even though the rules were different until now," the Hungarian prime minister said.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that Magyar believes Ukraine is currently not ready to join the EU. He said the membership process should proceed strictly under general rules, without any expedited procedures.
It was also reported that the first breakthrough in Ukraine’s EU accession process was reached in July after a lengthy blockade by Budapest. The Hungarian authorities agreed to begin the procedure for opening one of the negotiating clusters.
In addition, Budapest postponed the opening of the second and third negotiating clusters, which concern integration into the single market as well as economic and social policy.
