Budapest has consistently refused to provide weapons to Ukraine.
Hungary’s counterintelligence services have thwarted attempts by foreign intelligence agencies to arrange the transfer of Hungarian weapons to Ukraine, according to Viktor Orban’s chief of staff.
Gergely Gulyas disclosed the foiled arms deal at a press briefing on Wednesday, in response to a query from the Magyar Nemzet newspaper.
“Indeed, there were attempts to use the Hungarian military industry to send weapons to Ukraine, but our counterintelligence discovered and stopped them,” Gulyas stated.
“Hungary will not deliver any of its weapons or ammunition to Ukraine,” the official emphasized, reaffirming Budapest’s steadfast position on this matter.
According to the Magyar Nemzet, intelligence agencies from “both NATO member countries as well as some from outside the bloc” sought to acquire weapons and ammunition produced in Hungary for supplying combatants in both Ukraine and Africa.
When the Russia-Ukraine conflict escalated in February 2022, Orban’s government stood as the sole dissenting voice within the EU regarding unconditional support for Kiev. Within a month, Budapest prohibited the transit of Ukraine-bound weapons through its territory, as well as the export of locally-manufactured military equipment to the conflict zone.
Orban has consistently advocated for a ceasefire and peace negotiations, while opposing EU sanctions on Russian energy. His stance was bolstered last year when Robert Fico’s government assumed power in neighboring Slovakia and reversed its predecessor’s policy on Ukraine aid.
In recent weeks, Orban has criticized Vladimir Zelensky’s so-called ‘victory plan’ and asserted that the EU needs to adjust its policy and support a peaceful resolution of the conflict. He has also accused certain high-ranking EU officials of aiming for ‘regime change’ in Budapest and his replacement with a “Jawohl government” that would comply with Brussels’ directives.