Steven N.
The Orbán government softened its views on providing weapons to Ukraine relatively quickly, notes Népszava. After issuing seveal defiant statements that weapons headed to Ukraine would not be permitted to pass through Hungarian territory, the government has now given it the nod.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó (pictured) was adamant a week ago that there would be no transporting of arms through Hungary.
Despite this, the Official Gazette published a decree on Monday afternoon authorizing lethal military equipment to be transported to the Ukrainian Armed Forces “through the territory of Hungary by land or air into other allied countries.”
The decree stated that it would not allow transporting weapons by land or air directly to conflict areas, claiming that “Hungary is applying a strict national policy to protect its essential security interests.”
However, transporting non-lethal equipment and supplies, such as personal protective equipment, first aid equipment and fuel, may be transported directly to Ukraine.
Despite the change in policy, later that evening the website of pro-government media source HírTV highlighted how opposition leader Péter Márki-Zay did not understand how dangerous it would be if Hungary supplied weapons to the war.
Fidesz has asked the left-wing to stop its irresponsible and dangerous behavior on the war.
-reads the blurb.
Immediately next to that story’s summary was another story, featuring a picture of Viktor Orbán, on the very decree that now permits the “irresponsible and dangerous behavior” of Hungary sending weapons to Ukraine.
However, the site’s editors did not feel it necessary for some reason to highlight that aspect of the decree in their summary of the story.
[Népszava, Népszava][Cover photo: Péter Szijjártó / Facebook]
