Latest news with #PeterSzijjarto
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
NATO member names key reason for ‘bad relations' with Ukraine
Ukraine's poor treatment of ethnic Hungarians is the root cause of tense relations between Budapest and Kiev, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said. According to various estimates, 100,000 to 150,000 ethnic Hungarians live in Ukraine's western Zakarpattia Region. Over the past decade, Kiev has adopted laws restricting the use of non-Ukrainian languages in education and public life. These policies have drawn criticism from Budapest and prompted accusations of discrimination. In an interview with RIA Novosti published on Monday, Szijjarto said tensions with Ukraine go beyond the conflict with Russia. 'Right now we have very bad bilateral relations with Ukraine, which have nothing to do with the ongoing war,' he said. 'These bad relations emerged about ten years ago when the Ukrainian government began violating the rights of national minorities.' 'We hope one day Ukraine will have an administration that respects minorities and restores their rights.' Hungarian officials have also protested the forced conscription of ethnic Hungarians into the Ukrainian military, along with alleged cases of violence by draft officers. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Viktor Orban blamed the Ukrainian army for the death of Jozsef Sebestyen, a 45-year-old ethnic Hungarian who had been drafted. The Ukrainian military stated that Sebestyen died of a medical condition and showed no signs of violence. Nevertheless, Hungary has requested that the EU impose sanctions on three Ukrainian officials involved in mobilization efforts. A Hungarian church in Zakarpattia was also set on fire earlier this year, prompting condemnation from Hungary. Orban has opposed Ukraine's efforts to join NATO and the EU, arguing that these moves risk triggering a full-scale war with Russia. He has also refused to send weapons to Kiev and continues to advocate for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. Ukraine has denied the allegations of discrimination but maintains that a comprehensive treaty with Budapest is not possible without Hungarian support for its NATO membership bid.
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
NATO member names key reason behind ‘bad relations' with Ukraine
Ukraine's poor treatment of ethnic Hungarians is the root cause of tense relations between the neighboring countries, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said. According to various estimates, between 100,000 and 150,000 ethnic Hungarians live in Ukraine's western Zakarpattia region. Over the past decade, Kiev has adopted laws restricting the use of non-Ukrainian languages in education and public life. These policies have drawn criticism from Budapest and prompted accusations of discrimination. In an interview with Russian news agency RIA Novosti published on Monday, Szijjarto said tensions with Ukraine go beyond the ongoing conflict with Russia. 'Right now we have very bad bilateral relations with Ukraine, which have nothing to do with the ongoing war,' he said. 'These bad relations emerged about ten years ago when the Ukrainian government began violating the rights of national minorities.' 'We hope one day Ukraine will have an administration that respects minorities and restores their rights,' Szijjarto added. Hungarian officials have also protested the forced conscription of ethnic Hungarians into the Ukrainian military, along with alleged cases of violence by draft officers. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Viktor Orban blamed the Ukrainian army for the death of Jozsef Sebestyen, a 45-year-old ethnic Hungarian who had been drafted. The Ukrainian military stated that Sebestyen died of a medical condition and showed no signs of violence. Nevertheless, Hungary has requested that the EU impose sanctions on three Ukrainian officials involved in mobilization efforts. A Hungarian church in Zakarpattia was also set on fire earlier this year, prompting condemnation from Hungarian authorities. Orban has opposed Ukraine's efforts to join NATO and the EU, arguing that such moves risk triggering a full-scale war with Russia. He has also refused to send weapons to Kiev and continues to advocate for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. Ukraine has denied the allegations of discrimination but maintains that a comprehensive treaty with Budapest is not possible without Hungarian support for its NATO membership bid.
Canada News.Net
5 days ago
- Business
- Canada News.Net
Hungary opposes turning EUs budget into Ukraines
Budapest has called the European Commissions 2028-2034 spending plan unacceptable and accused it of prioritizing Kiev over the bloc Hungary has rejected the European Commission's proposed long-term budget, calling it a "budget for Ukraine" rather than for the EU. In an interview with RIA Novosti published on Friday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto described the 2028-2034 spending plan as "unacceptable," criticizing its focus on aid to Kiev. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled the draft last week, outlining nearly €2 trillion ($2.17 trillion) in total spending. The proposal includes around €100 billion ($108 billion) in aid for Ukraine and additional funds tied to its potential EU accession. The budget must be approved unanimously by all 27 member states, giving Hungary the power to block it. "We will not give it support or consent," Szijjarto told RIA Novosti, adding, "this isn't even the budget of the European Union - it's a budget for Ukraine." Budapest has also warned that the draft shifts funds from cohesion policies and agricultural subsidies, which are vital to Central Europe. The proposal could undermine EU food security by forcing farmers out of business and increasing import reliance, Hungarian officials have said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also denounced the draft budget, warning it could "destroy the EU" and claiming its only purpose is "to admit Ukraine to the EU." He has also cited analysts who estimate up to 25% of the budget could end up being spent on Kiev. Germany has likewise rejected the plan, calling it "unacceptable" amid efforts by EU members to reduce their national deficits. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has noted that Ukraine is unlikely to even join the bloc before 2034, when the current budget cycle ends. Ukraine has designated EU accession as a national priority. While Brussels has suggested Kiev could join by 2030, all existing members must approve its entry. Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland remain opposed, citing concerns about Ukraine's readiness and its potential financial burden on the bloc. While the Kremlin initially said Ukraine had the sovereign right to join the EU, Russian officials have since hardened their stance, accusing the bloc of undergoing "rabid militarization" and becoming an offshoot of NATO.
Russia Today
5 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Hungary opposes turning EU's budget into Ukraine's
Hungary has rejected the European Commission's proposed long-term budget, calling it a 'budget for Ukraine' rather than for the EU. In an interview with RIA Novosti published on Friday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó described the 2028–2034 spending plan as 'unacceptable,' criticizing its focus on aid to Kiev. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled the draft last week, outlining nearly €2 trillion ($2.17 trillion) in total spending. The proposal includes around €100 billion ($108 billion) in aid for Ukraine and additional funds tied to its potential EU accession. The budget must be approved unanimously by all 27 member states, giving Hungary the power to block it. 'We will not give it support or consent,' Szijjarto told RIA Novosti, adding, 'this isn't even the budget of the European Union — it's a budget for Ukraine.' Budapest has also warned that the draft shifts funds from cohesion policies and agricultural subsidies, which are vital to Central Europe. The proposal could undermine EU food security by forcing farmers out of business and increasing import reliance, Hungarian officials have said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also denounced the draft budget, warning it could 'destroy the EU' and claiming its only purpose is 'to admit Ukraine to the EU.' He has also cited analysts who estimate up to 25% of the budget could end up being spent on Kiev. Germany has likewise rejected the plan, calling it 'unacceptable' amid efforts by EU members to reduce their national deficits. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has noted that Ukraine is unlikely to even join the bloc before 2034, when the current budget cycle ends. Ukraine has designated EU accession as a national priority. While Brussels has suggested Kiev could join by 2030, all existing members must approve its entry. Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland remain opposed, citing concerns about Ukraine's readiness and its potential financial burden on the bloc. While the Kremlin initially said Ukraine had the sovereign right to join the EU, Russian officials have since hardened their stance, accusing the bloc of undergoing 'rabid militarization' and becoming an offshoot of NATO.
United News of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Hungarian FM Peter Szijjarto accuses Ukraine of undermining Central Europe's energy security by blocking gas transits
Budapest, July 24 (UNI) Taking a jab at Ukraine once again, Hungarian Foreign Minster Peter Szijjarto has accused the country of undermining the energy security of Central Europe, through its recent actions which include the blockage of gas transits from its territory, threatening energy supplies throughout the region. In an interview with Russian state media TASS, Szijjarto said 'The TurkStream pipeline is working on full capacity not without a good reason. We have a long- term contract, plus we buy on spot basis, plus Slovakia buys its gas now through Hungary because Ukraine was 'kind enough' to lock down transit through its own territory, endangering the energy safety of supplies in the Central European region.' Stating that Kyiv's calls for solidarity with Europe are made more questionable by such actions, he added 'So when we speak about solidarity, I'm not quite sure that we understand the same definition under that on both sides of the border.' Hungary has long been opposed to Ukraine's bid for joining the EU, stating that Budapest will not allow itself to be dragged into a war with Russia by allowing Kyiv to join the bloc. It has also been one of the few countries which has refused to supply any military equipment to Ukraine, or cut its ties with Moscow. Rather, it has become even closer to Russia, as Budapest is joining the country in construction of new gas pipelines, much to the opposition of Brussels which is seeking to cut its reliance on Russian energy. Slovakia has insisted on maintaining the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, whose authorities stopped supplies at the beginning of this year. As such, Bratislava currently receives energy raw materials from Russia via the TurkStream pipeline, though their volume is less than half of the republic's gas imports. UNI ANV
