Hungarian FM Szijjártó: NATO must avoid risking collective defence over Ukraine membership

NATO’s collective defence should not be sacrificed or risked for any third country, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, said in Brussels on Wednesday. “So it’s gratifying that no decision to invite Ukraine to join the defence alliance has been taken, as this could lead to a third world war,” he said.

At a press conference after a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, Szijjártó called the argument that Ukraine was fighting for European freedom and democracy “unbelievably blind”, adding that it was “fighting for its own freedom [and] sovereignty … which should be applauded but not confused with the idea that they are fighting for others.”

Photo: Facebook/Szijjártó Péter

The idea that Ukraine, as a part of NATO, would enhance Europe’s security was “nonsense”, he said, adding that Hungary regarded any such invitation as risking a war between NATO and Russia.

Referring to Article 10 of the Washington Treaty stating that countries that can contribute to NATO’s security may be invited to join it, he said: “Clearly, this isn’t so right now in Ukraine’s case.”

He said the outgoing US administration and “pro-war politicians in Europe” had “launched another attack” to render a possible peace pact after January 20 impossible.

Szijjarto also noted that several ministers had demanded that Ukraine lower the conscription age, and this would lead to “even crueller conscription and the deaths of even more young Ukrainians on the front”.

Further, it was suggested at the meeting that new Ukrainian recruits should be trained and armed by NATO, he noted, adding that such proposals, including fresh arms shipments, would prolong the war, risk further escalation and be the cause of even more deaths.

Regarding the argument that peace talks should not be held now because Ukraine’s current battlefield position was unfavourable, the minister said that the situation was “persistently deteriorating”, and a lack of recognition of this state of affairs was feeding Ukrainians’ illusions. Talk of victory on the battlefield would do no more than “deceive and mislead people”, he added.

Szijjarto insisted that Hungary was “a reliable ally” that met its commitments to the alliance, spending more than 2 percent of its GDP on defence, while more than 1,000 Hungarian soldiers served in the alliance’s various missions.

Listing “red lines”, he said NATO must not be belligerent in the Ukraine-Russia war and it must avoid direct conflict with Russia.

Szijjarto said the meeting had confirmed that “the pro-war leaders remain determined, blinded, and … terrified of what will happen after January 20.”

“The lesson to be drawn is that the peace mission must be bolstered, diplomatic and communication channels kept open, and the option of rapid peacemaking preserved,” he said.

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