It was possible to validate the Hungarian aspects in connection with the extension of NATO's practical support program for Ukraine, which has been operating since 2016, within the framework of which only non-lethal devices can be handed over, exclusively on a voluntary basis, announced Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó in Brussels on Wednesday.

According to the ministry's statement, the head of the ministry said at the press conference following the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of foreign ministers that, although it may seem boring, it is important to state that the military organization's decision that everything must be done to avoid confrontation with Russia is still valid, and although a "specifically warlike atmosphere" prevailed at the meeting, no one questioned this either. Even today, the allies made it clear that there is no question of Ukraine's NATO membership under the current circumstances".

He said that a decision was made to extend the practical support program of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Ukraine, which was launched long before the outbreak of the war, in 2016. When preparing this, the government represented two important aspects, on the one hand, maintaining the principle of voluntariness, so that each member state can decide for itself whether it wants to participate in the program. On the other hand, that only non-lethal devices be handed over within the framework of the initiative.

"Isn't this also extremely important, because such a step could have brought with it the risk of escalation"

he warned.

He also welcomed the fact that both Hungarian aspects were validated, participation is voluntary, and the program can only apply to non-lethal devices.

Péter Szijjártó stated that Hungary stands by the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, but at the same time, according to his words, it should be made clear that the war raging there is not Europe's war, the battles are not for the peace and democracy of the continent.

"Ukraine is fighting for itself, for its own territorial integrity, its own sovereignty and its own independence, which we value very much, because it is a heroic fight, of course, but I say again, this is not our war, which is why we reject any approach that starts from this"

he highlighted.

He pointed out that Ukraine's NATO membership is not timely for two reasons. On the one hand, it is not possible to include a country at war in accordance with the basic treaty, as it would put the alliance in danger, and in some cases, it would directly involve the risk of the Third World War.

On the other hand, it should also be seen that NATO is also a community of values, in which there is no place for a state that constantly suppresses the rights of national minorities.

He informed that the organization prescribed the implementation of a reform program for Kyiv, and at the initiative of Hungary, it also included the respect of the rights of national communities, and the government will monitor the implementation of this now NATO-level expectation as closely as possible.

The minister stated that the Hungarian position on this matter has not changed since the beginning of the deprivation of rights eight years ago, according to which it is necessary to return to the conditions of 2015 regarding the use of the mother tongue.

"We understand, we hear, of course, that the Ukrainians are vowing that a bill has already been passed, that representatives of the national communities have now suddenly been called together, which has not happened for years. Now they are trying very hard, but the fact is that the attic has already been filled with such statements in the last eight years"

he emphasized.

"I've heard a lot of promises, I've heard many times that almost everything has been solved, and then the opposite happened. That's why we believe in the adopted and implemented legislation, we believe in the adopted and implemented legislation"

he underlined.

"If there are such things, we will of course evaluate them, but you can't lead us or mislead us with statements," he added.

MTI

Featured image: Péter Szijjártó's Facebook page