Hungarian Government Staunchly Refuses to Provide Aid to Ukraine
Hungary Halts EU Funding for Arms Deliveries to Ukraine over OTP Bank’s Inclusion on War Sponsors List
Hungary’s government has announced that it will not approve any additional European Union funding for arms deliveries to Ukraine until the Ukrainian authorities remove OTP Bank from its list of international war sponsors. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó made this statement during a press conference held after a meeting of the Hungarian-Jordanian mixed economic committee.
Szijjártó expressed his outrage at Ukraine’s decision to label Hungary’s largest commercial bank as a war sponsor, calling it “outrageous, unacceptable, and scandalous.” He deemed the reasons behind OTP Bank’s inclusion on the list as “deceitful and ridiculous.”
The minister also voiced his frustration, stating that sometimes it feels like Ukraine is intentionally provoking Hungary. However, due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Szijjártó emphasized the need to choose words carefully. He highlighted that Hungary is already greatly assisting the Ukrainian people and it is unfair that Hungarians, who have no involvement in the conflict, are being penalized by the blacklist of their biggest bank.
Szijjártó criticized Ukraine’s arguments for including OTP Bank on the list, describing them as laughable. However, given the seriousness of the situation, he expressed horror instead. Consequently, Hungary has taken a firm stance, stating that it will block further EU funding for weapons deliveries to Ukraine until OTP Bank is removed from the list.
The foreign minister clarified that this decision applies not only to the recently blocked 500 million euros but also to any future proposals for funding additional weapons deliveries. Hungary will not approve any further EU funding until the issue surrounding OTP Bank is resolved.
Addressing the topic of Sweden’s NATO accession, Szijjártó stated that the decision lies solely with lawmakers. He mentioned that the government had submitted the proposal long ago and added that he had recently held discussions with his Turkish counterpart, who assured him that communication would remain close between Ankara, Sweden, and NATO. Szijjártó pledged that Hungary would uphold its promise not to delay the accession of any country if there are any changes.
The situation between Hungary and Ukraine regarding OTP Bank’s inclusion on the war sponsors list is another obstacle in the already complex relationship between the two countries. As Hungary takes a tough stance, the resolution of this issue remains uncertain, potentially impacting future cooperation between Hungary, Ukraine, and the European Union funds allocated for Ukraine’s defense efforts.
