Hungarian minister optimistic about long-term Ukraine peace after Russia's ceasefire response

Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó has expressed optimism about a potential long-term resolution to the conflict in Ukraine following Russia's response to a US proposal for a ceasefire.

Speaking in an interview with M1, Szijjártó discussed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s remarks regarding the American initiative, which calls for a 30-day ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Szijjártó noted that Putin’s failure to outright reject the proposal and the apparent shared interest in achieving a long-term peace settlement suggests a promising opportunity to bring stability to Ukraine—and by extension, to Central Europe.

However, he stressed the importance of both parties agreeing on the terms of the ceasefire and a sustainable resolution. 

Szijjártó also highlighted the key role US President Donald Trump could play in this process. He pointed out that the direction of events would largely depend on Trump’s actions, which could determine whether the situation moves "in a positive direction." 

The Hungarian minister reiterated Budapest’s long-standing position in advocating for direct negotiations between Washington and Moscow as the only viable way to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. “For three years, we’ve been saying that the solution to ending this war can only be found through negotiations between Russia and the US,” Szijjártó added. 

On March 11, talks were held in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) between the delegations of the US and Ukraine. Following the discussions, a joint statement was issued, confirming that Ukraine is willing to accept the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. In return, Washington would immediately lift the pause on providing intelligence and resume its military aid to Kyiv. 

On March 13, President Putin, in response to journalists' questions, expressed his gratitude to President Trump for his involvement in the peace negotiations and supported the idea of a ceasefire. At the same time, the Russian leader raised several key issues, including the status of Ukrainian military personnel who had invaded the Kursk region, the monitoring of the ceasefire, and Ukraine's actions during this period. President Putin emphasised that Moscow agrees with the proposals to halt hostilities in Ukraine, but insisted that any ceasefire must lead to long-term peace and address the root causes of the crisis.

By Naila Huseynova