Hungarian Foreign Minister urges restraint from Providing Ukraine with more weapons for Peace
The international community’s main objective should be to save lives, and despite facing “attacks and pressures,” the government of Hungary remains steadfast in its pursuit of peace in Ukraine, according to the country’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó. Speaking at a meeting of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg, Szijjártó acknowledged that his position might not be widely shared among the participants but emphasized the importance of promoting dialogue.
Szijjártó highlighted that Europe is currently facing significant economic and security challenges, which he believes are the most severe since World War II. He expressed concerns about the possibility of the regional conflict expanding into a global war. The minister criticized some European leaders for suffering from “war psychosis,” asserting that ordinary people should not bear the burden of the war in Ukraine, yet they are experiencing skyrocketing inflation.
Over the past 16 months, Europe has been unable to bring an end to the war and establish peace, Szijjártó lamented. He emphasized that the risk of escalation is high, while Europe’s competitiveness has reached an all-time low. The foreign minister criticized Europe for making two major mistakes: deepening its sanctions policy and engaging in a military competition with the United States to support Ukraine.
Szijjártó argued that the war’s consequences are being felt most acutely in Europe, and it is the responsibility of the continent to confront them. He cautioned that Europe has become trapped in a “distinctly dangerous spiral,” as more weapons pouring into Ukraine prolongs the war and leads to more casualties. He urged the international community to prioritize saving lives by securing peace.
The minister acknowledged that punitive measures against Russia have proven ineffective and have only resulted in more brutal fighting. As a neighboring state of Ukraine, Hungary is directly impacted by the war, with Transcarpathian Hungarians being among the victims. Szijjártó also criticized the declining competitiveness of Europe, pointing out that while the U.S. protects its industries through favorable laws, the EU subjects its companies to hardships due to sanctions.
Szijjártó expressed concern about the world reverting to rival blocs, describing it as the worst possible news for Hungary. He advocated for “civilized cooperation” between East and West, built on mutual respect and mutual benefits. The foreign minister cautioned against severing EU-China economic ties, highlighting the dependency of the electric car industry on Chinese batteries, which are crucial to the entire European economy.
While acknowledging that Hungary holds a minority position on the war in Europe, Szijjártó emphasized that the majority of countries worldwide desire peace as soon as possible. He stressed that despite constant attacks and pressure, the Hungarian government is upholding national interests in accordance with the will of the people.
In related news, Hungary recently released Ukrainian prisoners of war, leading to outrage from Kyiv.
