On April 20, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated it clearly in Kyiv: “Ukraine’s future is in NATO.” Stoltenberg’s remarks elicited a swift response from Orbán, who has unswervingly opposed weapons to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. In curious brevity, Hungary’s Prime Minister responded on Twitter with a single-worded query: "What?!" Soon after, Slovak Foreign Minister and former Ambassador to Hungary Rastislav Káčer, a long-time critic of the Orbán government, posted his response to Orbán: "What 'What?!' You kiddin’ me, mister?"
Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament Dóra Dúró gave an interview on the topic – pointedly - in the Russian propaganda rag Izvestia. The Our Homeland Movement MP (see Hunnia above) stated that Hungary will require Russia’s approval for Ukraine to join NATO. But there is more here than a supportive gesture to the Kremlin.
Earlier this year, Káčer cautioned that if Russia wins in Ukraine, Hungary may then make claim to Slovak territories once part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. His is a genuine concern. An independent and sovereign Ukraine’s actual membership in NATO complicates any plans Orbán has for realizing his ‘Greater Hungary’. Accordingly, he has sought to obstruct high-level NATO meetings with Ukrainian officials for years. Accusations of Kyiv’s arguably discriminatory language policies affecting 150,000+ ethnic Hungarians is his government’s justification. But when the likes of Dúró call for a “right step” towards greater territorial autonomy in Transcarpathia while Ukraine is fighting for its very existence, Hungary’s protests ring hollow and its priorities ominous. Káčer’s right to worry.
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