Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told Turkey’s Anadolu Agency on Wednesday that the near-term prospects for ending the conflict in Ukraine were not promising.
“Unfortunately, all the developments have taken a completely different direction. Arms deliveries, very public references to nuclear capabilities, mutual attacks, Ukrainian soldiers training in European countries, deep involvement of the Americans. So these certainly will not to peace,” he said in an interview in New York.
Szialto also pointed out that Ukraine was able to fight Russia because of the weapons provided by the United States, and that a long-term peace deal would depend on an agreement between Moscow and Washington.
Hungary has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Ukraine and urged a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Budapest has also refused to allow transit of NATO weapons destined for Ukraine, or to train Ukrainian soldiers on its territory.
Late Tuesday, U.S. Senator Jim Risch of Idaho blocked the sale of HIMARS rockets to Hungary, citing Budapest’s delay in approving Sweden to join the U.S.-led military bloc. As the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Risch was able to block the arms deal, worth an estimated $735 million, involving 24 HIMARS launchers and their ammunition.
Hungary has no objection in principle to Stockholm’s membership, Szijjarto told Anadolu, but Budapest’s parliament is considering it “insult” and interference in the country’s internal affairs from Stockholm.
Several Swedish officials accused Hungary of “fall back” on democracy and the rule of law, and accused PM Viktor Orban of behaving like “dictator,” As part of an EU campaign to force Budapest to comply.
“We never interfere in the internal affairs of other countries,” Seattle said“A charge like this gives us reason to put the issue aside for now.”
NATO hopes to finalize Sweden’s membership ahead of next month’s Vilnius summit, but Turkey will hold out even if Hungary bows to US pressure. Ankara has repeatedly said Stockholm needs to do more to implement a deal reached last year that involved the extradition of Kurdish militants accused of terrorism.
