Hungarian FM accuses EU, Ukraine of misreading reality of Russian conflict

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has accused Ukraine of disregarding the realities of the ongoing conflict with Russia, specifically pointing to the shifting front lines, which he claims are moving westward rather than eastward.

Szijjártó suggested that Kyiv and Brussels are failing to recognize the evolving situation on the battlefield. Despite the significant military support from Western nations, including hundreds of billions of euros in aid and weapons supplies, he emphasized that the front lines have been moving in Russia’s favor for the past three years, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

"The front line is moving to the west, not to the east," Szijjártó stated. He further criticized the continued determination of EU leaders and Ukrainian authorities to pursue military action, despite the evident trend on the ground. According to the Hungarian Foreign Minister, EU leaders are still clinging to the idea of Ukraine’s victory over Russia, which, he argued, is unrealistic given Russia's strength as a nuclear power.

Szijjártó also pointed to a failed diplomatic encounter between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former US President Donald Trump in Washington. The minister claimed that Zelenskyy was confronted with harsh realities at the meeting, which, according to him, ended in diplomatic failure for Ukraine. "Zelenskyy faced reality there like a courier train, because Washington and the Oval Office are not Brussels or the European Parliament," Szijjártó remarked.

The Hungarian official’s remarks highlight the deepening divide within Europe regarding the approach to the Ukrainian conflict. He believes that any successful resolution to the crisis will need to be grounded in the reality of the situation on the ground.

"If someone wants to achieve their conditions or impose their point of view, it can only be done with reality in mind," Szijjártó concluded, stressing that the importance of realistic negotiations would ultimately shape the future of the conflict.  

By Vafa Guliyeva