Ending the Russia-Ukraine war as soon as possible and initiating peace talks is in Hungary's fundamental interest because the war "brings the nightmare of a third world war closer" each day, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told public radio on March 24, according to the Budapest Times.
Hungary, however, will continue to reject participation in any political or financial initiatives aimed at supplying additional weapons to Ukraine, Szijjarto told the broadcaster, adding that those would pose a risk of escalation of the war.
Szijjarto added that a proposal by the European Council’s president “to shift to a war economy” was “posing an exceptional risk in itself,” the Budapest Times reported. On March 18, European Council President Charles Michel said if Europe wants to exist in peace, it must shift to a “war economy” mode and significantly bolster defense capabilities in the face of the threat posed by Russia.
Earlier this month, Szijjarto said that country's Prime Minister Viktor Orban planed to discuss how to "achieve peace" in Ukraine during an upcoming visit with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
"We definitely want to discuss with (Trump) how to restore peace in Ukraine and the eastern part of Europe," Szijjarto said, adding that the war in Ukraine "will inevitably end by negotiations," as "Kyiv can't defeat Russia," and "Russia can't defeat the entire West."
The Kyiv Independent news desk
