Hungary Secures NATO Waiver to Avoid Military Support for Ukraine

Hungary secured a waiver from NATO obligations to provide military support to Ukraine.

“A contre-courant de ses alliés occidentaux sur la guerre en Ukraine, la Hongrie apparaît de plus en plus seule au sein de l'Alliance atlantique”

Euronews

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg flew to Budapest to formalize the agreement with Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Euronews

Orban stated that Hungary would not be forced to participate in activities related to the Ukraine war and would pursue negotiations for peace.

The move came a day after Hungary skipped an Eastern NATO flank summit in Riga.

The waiver applies to the American-led contact group that coordinates weapons deliveries to Kyiv.

Hungary's stance has increasingly diverged from its Western allies.

Orban has refused to send arms to Ukraine and criticized sanctions on Moscow.

Europa Today

Hungary is one of only two NATO members that has not ratified Sweden and Finland's accession.

Brussels suspended €19 billion in funding over concerns about corruption and rule of law.

The waiver deal was seen as a way to accommodate Hungary's position.

The NATO waiver came just days before Hungary's parliamentary elections.

“The future prime minister of Hungary, Péter Magyar, made it clear to the world that he intends to radically alter his country's foreign policy, which for years has adopted a critical stance toward the European Union and favorable toward Russia”

Folha de S.Paulo

Péter Magyar declared that the Hungarians said yes to Europe.

He called for the resignations of key officials.

The President of the European Commission said Hungary chose Europe.

Magyar pledged to recover EU funding.