Hungarian FM urges EU leaders to "step out of the ivory tower" and renew contacts with Russia

Péter Szijjártó, Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, called on leaders of European Union member states to "step out of the ivory tower" and, like the United States, resume direct communications with Russia.

Speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Türkiye, he emphasized the need for a change in approach, criticizing Brussels and Washington for their stance in recent years, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Szijjártó acknowledged that both Brussels and Washington had openly criticized Budapest for maintaining ties with Moscow and Beijing. "We were asked, why are you talking to the Russians, why are you talking to the Chinese, why have you become observers at the Organization of Turkic States?" he remarked, pointing out the tension between Hungary’s foreign policy and the broader European stance.

However, Szijjártó expressed hope that the return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency could bring a shift in policy, leading to the reopening of communication channels globally. "I would suggest that bureaucrats in Brussels show respect for others, step out of the ivory tower, and forget about the idea that the European Union can act from a position of moral hatred. This should not be the case," he stated.

The Hungarian minister further argued that maintaining open communication channels and fostering dialogue on the basis of mutual respect is the only way to address the current global challenges. "Talking to each other is always better than not talking," he said, reiterating his commitment to dialogue as a means to resolve difficult situations.

Szijjártó also addressed the European Union's political strategy regarding the Ukraine conflict, calling it a failure. He explained that the EU's approach over the past three years has caused significant harm to Europe, its economy, and its people. "We see that the policy or political strategy the European Union has pursued over the past three years has completely failed, which has caused great harm to Europe, the European economy, and the European people. And I see that these European leaders would like to extend or increase the time needed to pay for the consequences of their very bad strategy," Szijjártó said.

He went on to criticize the EU's current stance on the continuation of the war, noting that European leaders appear more focused on prolonging the conflict than on achieving peace. "Therefore, now they are unfortunately more interested in continuing the war than in concluding peace," he added.

While Szijjártó expressed Hungary's desire for peace, he pointed out that the rest of the world, including the U.S., shared this desire. "We, the Hungarians, are interested in peace. I see that everyone outside Europe is interested in it. The Americans are interested, and only Western Europeans and the Brazilians are in favor of continuing the war," he said.

Szijjártó stressed that Hungary has worked to maintain communication with Russia over the past few years, emphasizing the importance of keeping diplomatic channels open for peace. "We believe it is very important to preserve or open communication channels. We have done this. We have been negotiating with Russia for the last three years on important issues, and I think keeping the communication channels open is a very important prerequisite for peace. But now Brussels will not go for contacts [with Moscow]," he concluded.

By Tamilla Hasanova