The Hungarian government’s position on the Russian–Ukrainian war remains clear: Hungary wants to stay out of the war and does not want to participate in NATO’s mission in Ukraine, Gergely Gulyás, the minister leading the Prime Minister’s Office stated at his regular press briefing on Thursday.
The minister underlined that the government will do everything necessary to avoid sending Hungarian soldiers or weapons to Ukraine. He further stated that the government believes there will be no resolution to the war on the battlefield. Consequently, NATO should intensify efforts to initiate peace talks as soon as possible and call for an immediate ceasefire. He added that at its meeting on Wednesday the government analysed the increasingly serious war situation, in light of further details about NATO plans being revealed that risk direct involvement in the conflict.
Gulyás explained that NATO’s mission in Ukraine would entail armed military training and coordination of arms deliveries, with a planned expenditure of 100 billion dollars over the next five years. He expressed concern over the expectation that the war could last for five more years. ‘These plans require the participation of all NATO member states, and
Hungary is under enormous pressure to support them,’
the minister leading the Prime Minister’s Office stressed.
According to him, the situation is even more complex because NATO, as a defence alliance, has the authority to deem any perceived imminent threat from a member state as a cause for action, even without a specific attack on its members. Gulyás noted that as a NATO member, Hungary should not be required to participate in any military missions in Ukraine if NATO does intervene. He also confirmed that Hungary faithfully adheres to its NATO commitments, consistently spending 2 per cent of its GDP on defence.
‘The government believes that we must serve peace and strengthen the Hungarian armed forces. This is to ensure Hungary can guarantee not only the peace of its own citizens but also that of NATO as a whole. We must avoid engaging in actions that risk a war between nuclear powers,’
Gulyás underscored.
Prior to Gergely Gulyás’ statement, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Péter Szijjártó also stressed that Hungary does not wish to participate in NATO’s mission to Ukraine. ‘Hungary will stay out of NATO’s crazy mission despite all the pressure,’ Szijjártó made it clear in London on Wednesday.
Government spokesperson Zoltan Kovács, responding to NATO’s initiative last month, said on X that Hungary would back no NATO proposals that ‘might draw the alliance closer to war or shift it from a defensive to an offensive coalition.’
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