Hungarian Foreign Minister Tries to Explain Why Hungary Opposes Ukraine's EU Membership

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has responded to criticism from his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock regarding Budapest's vetoing of European decisions on Ukraine, saying that Ukraine is still "unfit" to join the EU.

"Ukraine is simply too far from being suitable for joining or even negotiating on it, so it would be more timely to develop a strategic partnership first," Péter Szijjártó wrote on Facebook.

Szijjártó said that in his opinion, Baerbock has "completely misunderstood the situation". "Hungary's position on Ukraine's accession to the European Union is well thought out and justified; there is no blackmail or games in it. We categorically refuse to mix up things that have nothing to do with it," Péter Szijjártó said. 

According to Szijjártó, neither the Hungarian people, nor the Hungarian Parliament, nor the Hungarian government see any benefit for Europe from the "hasty start of negotiations with Ukraine".

He said Hungary would not change its position "under any pressure".  

"To preserve European unity, we recommend that the proposal to start negotiations with Ukraine be taken off the agenda for next week's meetings in Brussels," Szijjártó said. 

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said yesterday during a visit to Slovenia that "we have no time for games at this moment", commenting on the latest threats from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Orbán is said to have written another letter to European Council President Charles Michel, asking him not to put the issue of membership talks with Ukraine on the agenda of the EU summit in mid-December.

Orbán believes the European Union should sign a strategic partnership agreement with Ukraine first, not start membership negotiations with it.