Hungary Believes It Is Too Early for Ukraine to Join NATO

The Hungarian Minister of Defense, Tibor Benkő, has stated that the country has long supported Ukraine's aspirations to join the North Atlantic Alliance. However, the behavior of Ukrainian authorities towards the Hungarian population demonstrates Kyiv's inconsistency with NATO standards. This was reported by RIA Novosti.

“Ukraine has opposed Hungarians living in Transcarpathia and has behaved unacceptably for the alliance. After this, the government is committed to the position that Ukraine is still not ready for membership and does not meet NATO's expectations,” the minister said.

Benkő noted that Budapest will again support Kyiv's aspirations to join the alliance when the Ukrainian authorities grant the Hungarians in Transcarpathia the same rights that Hungary provides to the Ukrainian-speaking population of the country.