Hungary–Ukraine relations

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Europe has boosted its military production by 30%. In 2023, European defense spending reached a total of 326 billion euros, as reported by EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Josep Borrell.

Ukraine has halted a third of Russian oil imports to Hungary, leading Hungary and Slovakia to request immediate consultations with Ukraine, mediated by the European Commission. This action came after Ukraine stopped transferring Lukoil oil to the west last week.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is set to visit Kyiv today, marking his first trip to Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. His visit coincides with Hungary's upcoming EU rotating presidency. Orbán is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to the British publication The Guardian.

Hungary has declared its refusal to participate in NATO's proposed long-term aid plan for Ukraine, denouncing it as a "insane mission," according to the country's foreign minister, Peter Szijjártó. The decision comes amid escalating tensions within the alliance over strategies to support Ukraine in its war with Russia.

The Hungarian-Serbian joint venture for gas trading on the European market will start operating in September. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó announced this in a video message on his Facebook page after a meeting between Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who was visiting Budapest, TASS reported.