Hungary has agreed not to veto NATO support for Ukraine, although Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that his government would not provide funds or military personnel for any joint assistance effort. At an upcoming summit in Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden and NATO counterparts are expected to establish a new system to offer more predictable, long-term security help and military training to Ukraine's armed forces.
Orbán emphasized that Hungary does not want to block decisions in NATO that are supported by other member states. While NATO as an organization does not send weapons or troops to Ukraine, many member states provide bilateral assistance, collectively contributing over 90% of Ukraine's military support.
Despite the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, NATO operates on the principle that an attack on any ally will trigger a response from all members. Hungary's decision not to participate in NATO's plans was accepted by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who confirmed that Hungary would not oppose these efforts and would continue to fulfill its NATO commitments.
Orbán's government has been criticized for hindering NATO and EU efforts to aid Ukraine, with Orbán himself being friendly towards Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, NATO leaders are set to commit to maintaining military support for Ukraine at an upcoming summit, estimated to be around $40 billion worth of equipment annually.
While there was a promise to eventually invite Ukraine to join NATO, members currently agree that this should not happen while the conflict persists. Efforts are being made to coordinate support for Ukraine through NATO, with plans for further discussions at the upcoming summit in July.
