Peter Szijjarto Photo: Profimedia
Hungary views the potential return of former U.S. President Donald Trump as a “chance for peace” in Ukraine, stated Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on Wednesday at the start of the NATO summit. This comes as most allies aim to send a strong signal of support to Kyiv, according to Reuters.
In an interview with Reuters in Washington, Szijjártó emphasized that Hungary’s goal is to end the war through peace negotiations involving both Russia and Ukraine.
“I think there must be a very strong external influence to at least force them to negotiate,” Szijjártó said. “Who has that chance in the next period? Only President Trump, if he is elected.”
Recent Meetings between Orbán, Putin, and Zelensky
Szijjártó noted that recent meetings between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have shown the significant gap between the two sides. Other Western leaders are either unwilling or unable to bridge this gap, he added.
Trump’s Position on the War
Trump has claimed that he would quickly end the war, although he has not provided a detailed plan to achieve this. Last month, Reuters reported that Trump’s advisers presented him with a plan to end the war, which includes making future aid to Kyiv conditional on Ukraine joining peace talks.
“We see a chance for peace if President Trump wins. We see a chance for good relations between Hungary and the U.S. if President Trump wins,” Szijjártó said.
Hungary’s Position within NATO
Hungary’s stance on Ukraine differs from that of other NATO leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, who have stated that Kyiv should decide when to negotiate an end to the war. Ukraine has said it will not cede any territory as part of a peace deal.
Meetings with Ukrainian Foreign Minister
Szijjártó previously met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who stressed that any initiative to end the war should not be based on Russian terms.
Perception of Russia
Szijjártó said that Hungary does not see Russia as a threat to NATO or European Union members, asserting that Russian leaders are “rational” and would not risk a direct conflict with the West.
Criticism of Orbán’s Visits
Orbán’s visits to Kyiv, Moscow, and Beijing, where he also discussed the war in Ukraine, have faced sharp criticism from European Union members. Some have argued that these visits create the impression that he is acting on behalf of the bloc. Hungary assumed the EU presidency this month.
Reaction from the EU and the U.S.
European Council President Charles Michel stated that Orbán’s talks with Putin were a political mistake that does not reflect the position of the majority of EU national leaders. U.S. Ambassador to Budapest David Pressman also criticized Orbán’s meeting with Putin, noting that such actions harm Hungary’s relationships with its allies.
Szijjártó dismissed concerns about Hungary’s use of its EU presidency, stating that Orbán’s delegation did not use the EU flag during the visit, signaling that it did not represent the bloc.
NATO Plan and Escalation Risks
Szijjártó emphasized that Hungary is not obstructing NATO’s plan but will not participate in it. He expressed concerns about the risk of war escalation and mentioned the plight of Ukrainian refugees in Hungary as well as ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine.
“We see a huge risk of escalation,” he said. “Looking at this war from a few hours’ drive or from a 10-hour flight perspective is different, believe me,” he said, referencing the difficulties faced by Ukrainian refugees in Hungary and ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine.
