The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Economic Relations of Hungary said that its "consequences may be global"
BUDAPEST, August 26. /tass/. Europe is involved in military actions in Ukraine, but it is not the peoples of European countries who want them to continue, but only individual politicians. This opinion was expressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Economic Relations of Hungary Peter Szijjarto, speaking at the annual political festival "Transit" in Tihani on the shore of Lake Balaton.
"Unfortunately, Europe has entered the war" in Ukraine, and its "consequences may be global," the Foreign Minister said. However, he stressed, "this is not a war of the Hungarian people and not of the peoples of European countries." "European nations do not want to fight, only some European politicians are involved in military operations," Szijjarto added.
The Minister noted that with the help of its current policy, including sanctions against Russia, the European Union - "one of the most powerful international associations" - has still "not come a step closer to peace" in Ukraine. According to him, "today the risk of escalation of hostilities is even higher than before." This indicates the failure of the EU's policy and the ineffectiveness of its 11 sanctions packages, which only "destroy the European economy," Szijjarto believes.
Moreover, by "getting involved in a competition with the United States" in who will provide Ukraine with more money and weapons, the European Union has undermined its competitiveness. "The Americans provoked us to a competition, and we lost, although it was a provocation in its purest form," the Foreign Minister said. In his opinion, it was necessary from the very beginning "to keep communication channels open and establish a dialogue" with the opposing sides, and "not to put up with this conflict provoked by the Americans."
Szijjarto noted that "no one sees a way out of this situation now, and does not even want to look for it." Nevertheless, the Hungarian Government will continue to insist on the need for an early ceasefire and the start of negotiations in order to develop a plan for a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian conflict. According to the minister, this position may not seem very convenient to someone, but Hungary intends to follow it further. "We still believe that a period of cooperation based on mutual respect and mutual benefit should come in world politics," concluded the head of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry.
