Ukraine Offers To Replace Hungary in NATO

Ukraine has offered to replace Hungary in NATO and the EU in a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 7 as tensions between the two countries increase due to Budapest's support of Russia in the war.

Newsweek reached out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Hungary's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment via email.

Why It Matters

The two countries have been clashing over the expiry of the Russia-Ukraine gas transit deal at the start of the new year. Ukraine's statement cements Hungary's status as an outsider country in Europe by advising them to join Russian-led blocs. Further, replacing Russia in the EU and NATO would effectively decrease the pro-Kremlin rhetoric in those spheres.

What To Know

In the statement published on Wednesday, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote: "The 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 onward, allegedly having a negative impact on consumer prices, are part of a politically motivated information campaign intended for domestic consumption."

The ministry added that the "European Commission clearly indicated that Ukraine's previously announced decision did not adversely affect the energy security of EU countries or consumer prices in the European market."

The ministry said that only two out of 27 EU countries have struggled to "secure their economies and citizens with alternative energy supplies from the United States and the Middle East."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that the two countries, which are not named, in trying to retain energy relations with Russia have "effectively obstruct[ed] access to the European energy market for resources from the United States and other partners."

The ministry concluded: "If the Hungarian side prioritizes strengthening Russia over the EU and the United States, it should acknowledge this openly. Ukraine would be ready to fill any vacant space in the EU and NATO if Hungary chooses to vacate it in favor of membership in the CIS or CSTO [Commonwealth of Independent States and Collective Security Treaty Organization.]"

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó criticized Ukraine's parliamentary bill proposing the closure of natural gas and petroleum transportation routes from Russia during a state of war, deeming it "unacceptable" in a post on Facebook.

Szijjártó wrote that Kyiv needs to focus on "the reality: in the EU member states decide unanimously about the recruitment of new members. In other words, it is necessary for each member state to vote yes."

He added that it is "the sovereign right of each country to decide from where and on which route it takes the energy carriers necessary for its operation. Nobody has an outside say in this. Nobody has the right to force more expensive, unsafe energy procurement on other countries."

Ukraine and Hungary have clashed on previous occasions due to Russian President Vladimir Putin's close relationship with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and Budapest has opposed numerous European sanctions on Russia.

Hungary has expanded its imports of Russian gas since the war began nearly four years ago and has voiced its opposition to Europe's military and financial aid to Ukraine, according to Al Jazeera.

Zelensky has pushed to "advance" Kyiv's ascension into NATO as part of his "victory plan" introduced in the fall of 2024, with many countries, including Hungary, opposed to this move.

Ukraine also applied to join the EU soon after the war began in February 2022, and the EU decided to begin accession negotiations with Kyiv in 2023, with the first meeting taking place in June 2024.

What People Are Saying

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Jürgen Nauditt, a pro-Ukraine user, wrote: "Hungary out-Ukraine in. Ukraine is ready to take Hungary's place in the EU and NATO if Hungary decides to give it up in favor of membership in the CIS or CSTO-statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Thus, the Foreign Ministry responded to Hungary's accusations about an alleged increase in gas prices in the EU due to the cessation of transit of russian fuel.

"The ministry points out that russia has always been the only cause of problems on the European energy market. 'If the Hungarian side's priority is to strengthen russia, and not the EU and the US, then this should be openly recognized.' 'Ukraine will be ready to take a vacant seat in the EU and NATO if Hungary decides to give it up in favor of membership in the CIS or CSTO,' the agency said."