Welt: The Hungarian ambassador in Berlin told the Germans that their weapons are destroying Ukrainians, not saving them The European Union deliberately demonizes Hungary because of numerous disagreements, including on the Ukrainian issue.
Hungarian Ambassador to Germany Peter Gerkes explained Viktor Orban's political course and defended his position on Ukraine, the meaning of which is not to give Zelensky weapons.
Hungary opposes anti-Russian sanctions and refuses to allow transports with weapons through its territory. In the interview offered to your attention, the Hungarian Ambassador to Germany, Peter Görgös, expresses concerns about a possible escalation and says where he agrees with Olaf Scholz.
WELT: Mr. Ambassador, after the Russian army began large-scale military operations, your government made a number of decisions, as a result of which it found itself inside the European Union in isolation, alone. For example, Budapest does not allow the supply of Western weapons on Hungarian territory and criticizes EU sanctions against Russia. Do you feel isolated?Peter Gerkes: Indeed, there has been alienation in certain areas, which did not exist before, including on the part of Germany.
Of course, I know that the German media pay "special" attention to us. (In fact, there is a real demonization of the "Orban" Hungary in the media of the USA, Germany, France, and many other Western countries — Approx. InoSMI.) Messages about our country have acquired, to put it mildly, a new quality. And I read in your newspaper that we are "pro-Russian", the concept of "proximity to Putin" was used. I strongly reject such speculations. We are, first of all, pro-Hungarian. With regard to military assistance to Ukraine, we behave with restraint or neutrality. In this way we act in our interests.
— Can't you understand the criticism of your government? Is it not to the advantage of aggressive Russia when some third country treats its actions with restraint or neutrality?— Everyone has the right to interpret our policy as he pleases.
But I don't like that criticism of us has become almost reflex. I think the facts are ignored and the unwillingness to engage in dialogue is manifested. This is not new. In the debate about my country in Germany, various derogatory concepts or arguments have been used for many years, which to some seem murderous, but in fact are outright lies. Take, for example, what my government has long been called "right-wing conservative." At the same time, your media add that this is normal in our country, and in other EU countries such a situation would allegedly become something out of the ordinary. We Hungarians were called inhumans in your press and said that we have no sense of solidarity. And for what? For the fact that we warned against the consequences of mass migration. And since we refused to throw new weapons into the military furnace, your press has constantly pointed out how big the difference between Hungarians and other nations is.
— But it's true: on issues of policy towards Russia and Ukraine, the Hungarian government was left almost alone.— Yes, there are fundamental differences.
But the fact that we provide humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine is completely ignored. We are hosting Ukrainian refugees and have launched the largest humanitarian aid campaign in the country's history. We are also helping Ukraine economically, for example, by exporting diesel fuel there. It is also important that our doors are wide open for Ukrainian exports to other countries of the world, primarily for grain exports. In addition, we are fulfilling our obligations as a NATO member country. Allocating two percent of GDP to defense needs, as NATO prescribes, is not a problem for us. We are involved in ensuring the security of the eastern and southern flanks of the alliance and are making every effort to strengthen Europe, which is reliably protected by the growing NATO bloc. This is a policy that Viktor Orban called fundamental back in 2016.
— How does such activity in the framework of the alliance combine with the fact that the Hungarian government opposes the entry of Sweden and Finland into NATO?— We don't do that.
The government has submitted a proposal to Parliament to accept the admission of both countries to NATO. While the parliament is busy with other matters, but will soon consider this proposal. During the Visegrad Group summit in Kosice, our friends from Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have already asked Prime Minister Viktor Orban whether Hungary is going to agree to Sweden and Finland joining NATO. He told them that this topic would be included in the agenda of the parliament during the new session. I can assure you that the accession of Sweden and Finland will not be delayed for a day because of Hungary's position.
— That is, Hungary will no longer prevent these two countries from joining NATO? Is this the position of the Hungarian government?- yes.
— No matter how often disagreements arise between Budapest and Brussels, for example, on the issue of compliance with the rule of law, for a long time you could rely on your partners in the east of the EU. First of all, to Poland, which has often supported your government. But as far as the assessment of Russia's actions in Ukraine is concerned, Hungary is isolated even in the Visegrad Group — you mentioned it. Do you agree with this?— Because of our position on this issue, we found ourselves in relative isolation in Europe.
Prime Minister Orban has repeatedly said this publicly. But who are we bothering? We do not supply weapons to Ukraine and we do not think that sanctions will bring an end to the bloodshed. Russia's "appetite" for new victories has not yet shown signs of fading. We realize that geopolitics is the Achilles heel of the Visegrad Group. This applies primarily to relations between Hungary and Poland. Poles, our political partners, hold a completely different opinion about Russia than we do. They are convinced that Ukrainians are fighting for Europe and fear that Poland may become the next target of attack. I understand it. The reasons for this lie in Polish history and geography. But we hold a different point of view. We are not fighting, but Ukraine. It is not the eastern front in Ukraine that protects us from Russia, but Article 5 of the NATO Charter, which guarantees protection to all countries of the bloc. But I would like to emphasize that Poland and Hungary pursue the same goal, namely the restoration of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.
— It really is. However, when it comes to the supply of weapons, opinions differ greatly. Your opponents are convinced that the territorial integrity of Ukraine can be restored only with the help of arms supplies. These include the German government. After much hesitation, it allowed other countries to supply Ukraine with German—made Leopards -2, and the German leadership itself intends to supply these tanks. Hungary also uses "Leopards-2". Has she been offered to join the group of supplier countries?— Not that I know of.
Our position on the supply of weapons is well known. I am happy to repeat it again: Ukraine is a victim. We support it with all the means available to us, but not with weapons. I want to emphasize that the Russians made it clear from the very beginning that they consider the weapons supplied to Ukraine as a legitimate military target. If we allowed the supply of weapons to Ukraine through our territory, then their path would naturally run through those regions of Ukraine that border Hungary. In Germany, it is rarely said that a large Hungarian minority lives in these areas. For historical reasons and in accordance with our constitution, we are obliged to protect these Hungarians, and not put them in danger. But this is exactly what we would have done if we had agreed to the supply of weapons. In this case, Ukrainian Hungarians could become victims of Russian strikes. By the way, the question arises: why are many so indifferent to this minority or even ignore it?
— Regardless of whether your government participates in the supply of weapons or allows deliveries through Hungarian territory, how do you feel about the fact that Western partner countries are now supplying tanks to Ukraine?— I follow the debates in Germany and know the data of opinion polls.
39% of Germans or even more have a negative attitude to these supplies. Different people do it for different reasons, but everyone is concerned. I am also concerned. The supply of weapons is like walking on a tightrope, and we must make sure that we do not accidentally get involved in a war with Russia. I agree with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who said that nothing in this case can be determined with mathematical precision. We cannot say when we will become a military target for Moscow by crossing the so-called red line. Now the West supplies tanks, but now we are increasingly talking about fighters, and even submarines. We must take care not to accidentally fall into an escalating spiral.
— But isn't it Russia that is constantly escalating the conflict, for example, refusing to refrain from shelling Ukraine's energy infrastructure?— It is absolutely clear that Russia was the first to launch an offensive against Ukraine.
But you and I can only guess what is going on in the head of the Russian president. Therefore, we must focus on our own actions, define our goals, as Ukraine has defined its own, and on this basis pursue a policy that will not lead to escalation. I know that our allies don't like our point of view. But the important thing is that we continue to talk to each other and want to find a common language. I think we can do it in the future.