Hungary Urges Peace Talks in Ukraine Conflict

During his recent visit to Moscow, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, emphasizing the need for negotiations to resolve the ongoing war in Ukraine. Szijjártó reiterated that the conflict cannot be settled on the battlefield, advocating for continued dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow. Lavrov praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's peace initiatives, which have faced criticism from the EU for not reflecting the bloc's stance. Szijjártó warned that the risk of escalation in the war is significant and that closing diplomatic channels undermines peace efforts. He called for Hungary to increase its diplomatic efforts while maintaining bilateral relations with Russia. This visit follows a series of controversial meetings by Orbán aimed at positioning Hungary as a mediator in the conflict, despite objections from EU leaders.