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Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar on Wednesday said Budapest will not support new military assistance for Ukraine as NATO leaders gathered in Ankara, arguing that the alliance should prioritize strengthening its own defenses over approving additional weapons for Kyiv.
Speaking to reporters before the summit's main session, Magyar reiterated that Hungary would continue providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine but would not take part in military aid, including arms shipments.
Despite that stance, he described Ukraine as the victim of the war and Russia as the "brutal aggressor," stressing that Kyiv has every right to defend its territorial integrity.
Magyar also revealed that he held a brief conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the summit, and they agreed to hold a bilateral meeting in the near future.
While no date or venue has been finalized, Magyar said he would like the talks to take place in Berehove, an option the Ukrainian side has not ruled out.
The planned meeting follows a recent agreement between Hungary and Ukraine aimed at safeguarding the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine's Transcarpathia region.
Under the deal, Hungarian-language education will continue, while the use of national symbols and the language itself in official settings will remain protected in areas with significant Hungarian communities.
Ukraine is expected to dominate discussions as NATO leaders wrap up the two-day summit in Ankara, with allies preparing to reaffirm long-term military backing for Kyiv despite differences over the scale of future assistance.
A draft summit declaration commits member states to provide at least €70 billion ($79.93 billion) in military aid in 2026 and maintain comparable levels of support the following year, while leaders are also expected to endorse closer defense-industrial cooperation with Ukraine and continued training for its armed forces.
Speaking at the NATO Defense Industry Forum ahead of the leaders' meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged allies to deepen military cooperation, arguing that Ukraine has become "not a liability but an asset" for the alliance after years of fighting Russia.
He called for additional air defense systems, particularly Patriot missile batteries, and pressed NATO members to further integrate Ukraine's defense industry with those of allied countries.
Zelenskyy also renewed his appeal for NATO membership, saying Ukraine's battlefield experience and expanding drone and missile capabilities would strengthen the alliance's collective security.
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