30 September 2021
The Ukrainian-Hungarian war of words continued on
Sept. 29 in an interview published in Magyar Nemzet newspaper. The head of
Prime Minister Victor Orban’s administration, Georgy Guyas, stated that the
revenge of the Ukrainian side for the Sept. 28 signing of the gas supply
agreement between Gazprom and the Hungarian government had occurred well in the
past. It occurred, “when Ukraine severely restricted the use of Hungarians’
native language in Transcarpathia by amending the education law,”
eurointegration.com.ua reported on Sept. 29. For that, he said, “Hungary should
keep blocking Ukraine’s path to NATO.” Guyas also maintained that the contract
was Hungary’s own affair, and that Ukraine had no right to meddle.
James Hydzik: Hungary can
continue to be expected to be a spoiler when it comes to Ukraine’s integration
with western institutions. Guyas and company will no doubt say the same about
EU ties. The current Ukrainian administration is not one to conduct a charm
offensive against them, either, so relations can be expected to be stuck at
this low point for the short term at least.