Hungary has justified its decision to refuse participation in the EU’s military training mission for Ukrainian soldiers by citing its 2022 decision to withhold troops or funding for the initiative. At that time, Budapest declined to host any training sessions on its soil, MTI reports.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto emphasized that Hungary did not obstruct other member states from taking part in the mission. However, since then, a “very dangerous proposal” has emerged within the EU, which involves sending military advisors to Ukraine for coordination tasks and extending the mission’s mandate by two years. Szijjarto warned that such actions could escalate the war.
“It is dangerous for Hungary because escalation first happens in neighboring regions, not thousands of kilometers away,” he noted.
Szijjarto reiterated that Hungary, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, has requested a review of the proposal, stressing that the country cannot support it in its current form. Hungary is not alone in its stance. Croatian President Zoran Milanovic also refused to approve Croatian soldiers’ participation in NATO’s support mission for Ukraine, citing concerns over the conflict spreading into Croatia and prioritizing the safety of his country.
This decision contrasts with the support package agreed upon at the NATO summit in July, which included the establishment of NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) to coordinate military aid and training for Ukraine from partner nations.
The goal of NSATU is to support the transformation of Ukraine’s defense and security forces, ensuring better integration with NATO.
