Despite pressure from Western allies, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has stated that Hungary will continue to insist on a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine conflict as soon as possible. In an interview with Russian business daily RBK, Szijjarto acknowledged that not all of Budapest’s partners appreciate its calls to end hostilities between Moscow and Kiev. Hungary has consistently refused to send arms to Ukraine, called for an immediate ceasefire, and criticized Western sanctions against Russia as ineffective and self-defeating.
Szijjarto expressed his frustration with the lack of intellectual debate on resolving the Ukraine conflict and highlighted that Hungary has faced stigmatization and no counterarguments to its stance. He emphasized that Hungary will continue to defend its position, despite facing pressure and blackmail from Western allies to change its stance. This is also in line with the will of the Hungarian people.
The foreign minister lamented the European Union’s descent into warmongering, noting that Hungary and Slovakia have ended up “in an absolute minority” regarding their stance on Ukraine. Szijjarto emphasized that the issue at hand is not what they think about the war, but how peace could be achieved in the shortest and fastest way. Hungary believes that supplying more weapons will only prolong the conflict, with a solution found through negotiations instead.
Szijjarto’s recent visit to Russia included discussions with Gazprom head Aleksey Miller on natural gas exports to Hungary, which is heavily dependent on Russian supplies. While regretting that many in the West view energy cooperation with Russia as a political controversy, Szijjarto noted that agreements with Moscow have guaranteed sustainable gas deliveries to Hungary.