Hungary Hinted about Resuming Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic Integration Blockade

The scandal of interference in the local elections in Ukraine by two Hungarian high-ranking officials is gaining momentum.

Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó called the decision of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ban the entry of two Hungarian officials, who on 25 October campaigned in Transcarpathia for the Party of Hungarians of Ukraine and the current mayor of Beregovo Babják Zoltán, “pathetic nonsense.”

In his video address, Szijjártó stated that Budapest had not received an official notification about the Ukrainian ban. He also noted that Kyiv had taken “unfriendly steps” towards Budapest, calling the Hungarian ambassador “on the carpet” over the story.

“Ukraine hereby sends a message… that it has refused to support Hungary’s efforts for Euro-Atlantic integration,” the Minister stressed.

At the same time, he congratulated the victory of Hungarian candidates in the local elections in Ukraine. According to Szijjártó, this means that the position of Hungarians should be taken into account when it comes to the future of the region bordering Hungary.

Bohdan Marusyak