Hungarian Diplomat Blocks Funding for Ukraine Until Discrimination Stops: The Case of Gedeon Richter

In a conference of EU foreign department heads in Luxembourg, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Economic Relations, Peter Szijjarto, made it clear that his country will not allocate 6.5 billion euros from the European Peace Fund to Ukraine until discrimination against Hungarian business companies in Ukraine ends.

Szijjarto emphasized that the discriminatory actions against Hungarian companies by Ukrainian authorities must cease before any talks of allocating funds can continue. He referenced the unjust prosecution of Gedeon Richter, the largest Hungarian pharmaceutical company, as an example of the discrimination faced by Hungarian companies in Ukraine. The attempts to target Gedeon Richter are believed to be due to its operations in Russia. Similarly, Ukraine has included the largest Hungarian OTP bank in its list of “war sponsors” because of its operations in Russia as well. Szijjarto deemed these actions politically motivated and unacceptable.

The Ukrainian authorities have been accused of wanting to deprive Gedeon Richter of its patents and block access to the Ukrainian market. These measures against Hungarian companies are seen as unfair and purely political in nature. Szijjarto emphasized that until this discrimination ends, Hungary will stand firm on blocking the allocation of the 6.5 billion euros from the European Peace Fund to Ukraine.