Orban: Hungary won't be part of NATO's aid operations in Ukraine

Mr. Orban told state radio that Hungary opposes a plan that is being considered by NATO to offer more solid military support to Ukraine in the years ahead to counter the frontal attack by Moscow, while the more well-equipped Russian forces are trying to dominate the battlefield.

“We do not approve of this, nor do we want to be part of financial or weapons support (for Ukraine), even under NATO”, said Mr. Orban, adding that Hungary has been positioned as <x2-partative> in NATO's future operations to help Kiev.

“We need to redefine our position within the alliance, and lawyers and our officers are working on it... how Hungary may exist as a NATO member, but not participating in NATO activity outside its”, he said.

Prime Minister Orban, considered Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest EU partner, stressed NATO's role as a defence organisation and said he does not share those of several Central and Eastern European countries that the Russian army would not stop its aggression even if it won the war in Ukraine.

NATO's “Power cannot be compared to that of Ukraine”, he said. “I do not consider the logical proposal that Russia, which is barely dealing with Ukraine, will come suddenly and devour the entire Western world”.

Hungary has refused to help Ukraine with military aid in contrast to most other EU nations, and Mr. Orban has strongly rejected union sanctions against Moscow, though in the end it has always voted for their approval.

The nationalist leader is preparing for the European Parliament elections, held on 6 June-9 June, and presents his party as guarantors of peace in the region. It has characterised the United States and EU countries seeking greater support for Ukraine as the “pro-war” countries that are preparing a global conflict. / VOA/