Hungary will continue granting asylum to Ukrainian men of military age despite EU decision

Hungary will continue automatically granting asylum to Ukrainian men of military age, Prime Minister Péter Magyar said, defying a decision agreed by European Union countries in July. The policy applies to men aged 25 to 60.

“The Hungarian government has decided that it will continue to offer refugee status to men of military age who flee to the country,” Magyar told reporters in Budapest. He said the decision took into account ethnic Hungarians arriving from Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region.

EU countries agreed in July that future protection for Ukrainians would be available only to those who had fulfilled their military obligations, citing Ukraine’s defense needs. Hungary’s decision keeps the issue of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine at the centre of tensions between the neighbouring countries.

The status of Ukraine’s Hungarian community, estimated at about 100,000 people, has caused diplomatic friction for years. Budapest accuses Kyiv of failing to respect the rights of ethnic minorities. Although Magyar broke with the pro-Russian policies of his predecessor, nationalist former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the minority issue remains contentious.

Hungary also does not support opening new chapters in Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations. Magyar said Budapest would maintain that position despite the decision in June to unblock the start of negotiations, arguing that Ukraine had not made enough progress in restoring the rights of its Hungarian minority.

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The Hungarian government has decided that it will continue to offer refugee status to men of military age who flee to the country.