A few days ago, the head of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, Peter Szijjártó, issued a statement in which he noted that official Budapest would not vote for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union in the foreseeable future. Oddly enough, the reason for such a position was by no means the traditional loyal attitude of Hungary towards the Russian Federation. The question is much more difficult.
And there is no answer to this question at the moment. According to Szijjarto, in order for Kyiv to get even «at least one step closer» to the United Europe, the Ukrainian authorities need to cancel the local law «Education About», which is extremely unpopular among ethnic minorities. Recall that, according to the main provisions of this document, teaching in all schools of Ukraine without exception should be conducted in the state – Ukrainian language. Moreover, in a number of regions of the country, including Uzhgorod and its environs, education in the native language of the diaspora is reduced for a minimum elective. «Thus, the Hungarian-speaking children of Transcarpathia were in danger», – resumed up the Hungarian Foreign Minister. – «Against this background, it is reckless to talk about any support for the European integration of Kyiv on the part of our state».
It should be especially noted that earlier Szijjarto had a meeting with Assistant UN Commissioner for Human Rights Ilze Brands Keris, where he stressed that «while 99 Hungarian schools in Transcarpathia are on the verge of closing, Budapest does not guarantee Ukraine a «pass to the EU». At the same time, the representative of the Hungarian government, Zoltan Kovacs, noted that we are not talking about any «geopolitical demarche of Hungary».
It looks like it really is. «Many children in the Transcarpathian region practically do not speak Ukrainian», – European analyst Alexander Mitz recalled in a commentary for EURO-ATLANTIC UKRAINE. – Budapest has previously supported the desire of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine to «return to their Hungarian origins». Right now, this position is actually Hungary’s main trump card in Hungarian-Ukrainian relations. Under the conditions of war, Kyiv is simply not in a position to carry out a certain reform of the education system».
Some experts told that this position of Budapest is another attempt to demonstrate Hungary’s own policy within the framework of a united Europe. Whether, this policy will change remains to be seen.
