Ukraine says ready to replace Hungary in EU and NATO
Al Jazeera
Amid Hungary’s continued support for Moscow’s narratives, Kyiv says it will fill in should Budapest elect to join Russian-led blocs instead of the Western bodies.
Ukraine has declared that it is ready to replace Hungary in the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) should Budapest prefer to join Russian-led blocs.
The statement was released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on Wednesday. While clearly tongue-in-cheek, it also reflects the serious tension that has built up between Ukraine and Hungary, with Budapest offering support for Moscow’s narratives over the war in Ukraine and obstructing the Western bodies’ efforts to bolster Kyiv.
Kyiv’s statement, which was also posted on X, was made in response to “[t]he latest manipulative statements from the leadership of Hungary regarding Ukraine’s decision not to extend the transit agreement with the aggressor state, Russia, from 2025 onwards”, it said.
Kyiv said it “would be ready to fill any vacant space in the EU and NATO if Hungary chooses to vacate it” in favour of its membership in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), or the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
