Hungary rejects EU military advisers to Ukraine, says FM Szijjártó
Hungary Objects to EU Proposal to Deploy Military Advisers in Ukraine
Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, has announced that the country is rejecting a new proposal by the European Union to deploy military advisers in Ukraine for training coordination. Szijjártó stated that this move carries the risk of escalating the war in the region.
The EU had previously decided to train Ukrainian soldiers in the territory of EU member states late in 2022, but Hungary opted out of providing soldiers or funding for the initiative. Additionally, Hungary refused to allow training missions to take place on its own soil.
Szijjártó emphasized that Hungary did not prevent other EU member states from participating in the training initiative. However, he described the new proposal to send military advisers to Ukraine for coordination tasks and extend the mission’s two-year mandate as “extremely dangerous,” warning that it could escalate the conflict.
The foreign minister highlighted the proximity of the conflict to Hungary, noting that escalation tends to begin in neighboring regions rather than thousands of kilometers away. He asserted that Hungary cannot support the current proposal in its current form and has requested a revision of the plan.
The rejection of the EU’s proposal by Hungary underscores the complexities and challenges surrounding military involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. Szijjártó’s statements reflect the country’s cautious approach to the situation and its concerns about the potential consequences of further escalating the war.
