Kyiv: Hungary continues to block Ukraine-NATO Summit
The NATO Summit in Brussels can take place on July 11-12 with the participation of the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, as reported by Radio Svoboda journalist Rikard Jozwiak on Twitter. According to him, it became possible after Hungary unblocked holding the event.
"The EU-Ukraine Summit is tentatively scheduled for July 9 in Brussels. This means that Poroshenko should stay there for the NATO Summit on July 11-12. Hungary allows it,” Jozwiak wrote.
On the other hand, Vice-Prime-Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze states that Hungary continues to block Ukraine’s meetings with the NATO Commission at the level of Heads of State and Government.
"The decision on the meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Commission at the level of Heads of State and Government has not yet been taken at the moment. Unfortunately, Hungary is blocking it,” she said on Channel 112 Ukraine on Thursday. Klympush-Tsintsadze stated that Ukraine will continue a constructive dialogue. She hopes that Hungary will change its decision.
The Vice-Prime-Minister also noted that Ukraine has been communicating with other participating partners of the Alliance regarding Hungary’s position.
On April 23, Hungary blocked the meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Commission at the level of Heads of Foreign Ministers, a move meant to highlight their complaints regarding the language article of the Ukrainian law on education. In October last year, Budapest vetoed convening the meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Commission that was scheduled for December 6.
On March 20, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó announced the intention to block the participation of the President of Ukraine in the NATO Summit that will take place in Brussels in July. Poroshenko responded that he would not cancel the trip.
In April, Polish Foreign Minister offered to change the format of the Ukraine-NATO meetings due to Hungary’s blocking efforts. Earlier, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged Ukraine and Hungary to resolve the “language dispute” as soon as possible.