Does Hungary train Ukrainian military?

European Council President Charles Michel, front right, talks to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, second row, in the presence of other European Union leaders for a group photo in Brussels, February 9, 2023. AP - Virginia Mayo

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Since the attack on Ukraine by Russia, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is the only European head of government to go it alone.

Presenting himself as "the party of peace" against the "camp of war", the Hungarian leader trumpets that he will not bring any military aid to kyiv.

Orban objectively supports Moscow by opposing sanctions against Russia, and even calls on Ukraine to lay down its arms.

However, the leader of the Magyar right seems to be playing a double game. This is what the Slovak Defense Minister suggests.

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With our correspondent in Budapest,

It was during a press conference in Slovakia earlier this week that the Slovak Minister of Defense released the information: we know that Ukrainian soldiers are being trained in Hungary, said Jaroslav Nad.

The Hungarian Ministry of Defense did not deny it, but it indicated that it was about training caregivers and nurses, on a humanitarian basis.

Since the start of the war, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has given priority to humanitarian aid.

He repeats that he does not want to deliver arms to Ukraine, nor to transit military equipment through Hungary.

Orban avoids presenting Russia as an aggressor, and prefers to speak of a war between “

 ”.

According to some observers, the head of government would display his neutrality to safeguard his good relationship with Vladimir Putin.

But behind this apparent neutrality, there are gray areas.

An investigative media (Atlatszo.hu) revealed that Hungary regularly participates in the meetings of the Contact Group for the Defense of Ukraine.

This group coordinates the military aid sent to kyiv.

►Also read: Why is Hungary dragging on to ratify the entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO?

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