Szijjarto: Hungary supports Ukraine’s EU accession

The Baltic states, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Slovenia proposed last weekend that the EU should recognise Ukraine as a candidate for membership and start accession talks as soon as possible.

“Hungarians do not want war,” Szijjarto said, adding that Hungary would provide Ukraine “with every assistance that promotes peace”.

Szijjarto said he informed his Polish and Lithuanian counterparts about the government’s decision on Tuesday.

Hungary will make every effort to protect itself and its people against the war, and prevent that the country should drift into the conflict, Szijjarto said. The country will however, “take solidarity with Ukraine, and stand by its sovereignty and territorial integrity”, he added.

Hungary will accommodate people fleeing from the war, and urge the continuation of talks between Ukraine and Russia, Szijjarto said.

The Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association (KMKSZ) has thanked Hungary’s government for supporting Ukraine’s candidacy for EU membership.

“In this situation this is of paramount importance for all citizens of Ukraine,” the association said in a statement.