Hungary will continue to provide protection to Ukrainian men of draft age despite new EU rules that restrict access to temporary protection for those who have not fulfilled their military obligations under Ukrainian law. Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said Budapest would “act differently” and help those fleeing the war.
This was reported by TVP World.
Magyar said Hungary would retain the right to provide protection to such men. According to him, many of them are ethnic Hungarians from Transcarpathia.
“A few weeks ago, the European Union decided that refugee status cannot be granted to men of draft age who are fleeing the war. Despite this, the government decided to retain Hungary’s right to grant such status,” he said.
According to Magyar, he raised the issue during talks with European Council President António Costa in Budapest. The Hungarian prime minister said he considered it wrong to prevent people from leaving a country where a war is ongoing.
“Hungary will act differently and provide assistance to those who need it,” Magyar said.
As a reminder, EU countries agreed in July to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians until March 4, 2028. The new rules took effect on August 5 and do not allow new applications for temporary protection from Ukrainians who have not fulfilled their military obligations under Ukrainian law. Hungary voted against the decision.
