Hungary blocks Kuleba's participation in NATO-Ukraine Commission meeting

The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko made the statement in a comment to the European Pravda.

"As you know, Hungary has been blocking NUC meetings higher than the level of ambassadors since 2017. In order to formally overcome the Hungarian veto, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is organizing a separate meeting of the foreign ministers of NATO and Ukraine. At this meeting, Dmytro Kuleba and his colleagues from other counties will discuss further military assistance to Ukraine and the restoration of the Ukrainian energy infrastructure," Nikolenko said.

Earlier, the Financial Times reported that Hungary had opposed Kuleba's participation in the official session. Due to this Kuleba is forced to meet with colleagues at a separate meeting.

Nikolenko later clarified on Facebook that there is no question of a sudden change in the format of Dmytro Kuleba's participation in the NATO event in Bucharest.

"This is a proper ministerial meeting, but not in the NUC format. The defense ministers of NATO and Ukraine previously met in the same format. After Hungary withdraws its reservation, ministerial meetings can also take place within the NUC framework," Nikolenko wrote.

He added that at the meeting in Bucharest, Dmytro Kuleba and his counterparts will discuss further military aid to Ukraine and the restoration of the Ukrainian energy infrastructure. During the visit to Bucharest, the minister will also hold a number of bilateral meetings.

The meeting of foreign ministers of NATO member states is taking place in Bucharest on November 29-30.