In the ongoing crisis between Ukraine and Russia, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has expressed concerns about the future of peace negotiations, predicting that conditions for talks are bound to worsen. Szijjarto emphasized that the current moment offers the best opportunity for dialogue, cautioning that yesterday's conditions were better than today's, and tomorrow's conditions will be even more challenging.
While Moscow has signaled its readiness to seek a diplomatic solution to the conflict, Ukrainian authorities, backed by the United States and NATO, continue to resist entering into negotiations. The divide between the two sides remains significant, hindering any potential progress towards peace.
Hungary, having emerged as a prominent advocate for a negotiated resolution, strongly believes that there is no military solution to the conflict in Ukraine. The nation has been actively calling for a ceasefire and a peaceful settlement, standing in opposition to the EU's decision to supply arms to Kiev. Hungarian officials, including Prime Minister Viktor Orban, have criticized anti-Russia sanctions, arguing that they inflict more harm on Europe than on Moscow.
Orban has been resolute in his stance that a military victory for Ukraine is unattainable and that the country's survival is heavily reliant on Western financial assistance.
Despite Moscow's willingness to engage in peace talks, Ukraine insists that negotiations can only commence after the complete withdrawal of Russian forces from all Ukrainian territory, including Crimea. This demand has been a major point of contention, causing a deadlock in diplomatic efforts.
Russia, for its part, has blamed Ukraine for the lack of progress in diplomacy, citing a decree signed by President Vladimir Zelensky last year that prohibits talks as long as Vladimir Putin remains in power. This decree has added further complexities to the negotiations, making it challenging to find common ground for dialogue.
Speaking at the Russia-Africa summit, President Vladimir Putin asserted that the conflict stems from threats to Russia's security by NATO. Moscow accuses Washington and its allies of rejecting negotiations on equal security issues, further complicating the path towards resolving the crisis.