Hungarian defence minister: Most EU members considering steps that could lead to escalation
Most EU member states are considering steps that could lead to the escalation of the war in Ukraine, Hungary’s defence minister said after an informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Brussels on Friday.
The meeting had a pro-war atmosphere with all addresses calling for continued military support to Ukraine, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky told a press conference.
Defence minister: The only solution is through diplomacy
He reiterated the Hungarian government’s position that the only “enduring solution” to the conflict was through diplomacy with an immediate ceasefire and negotiations.
A proposal on conducting EU military trainings for Ukrainian soldiers in Kyiv was also discussed, the minister said, adding that such a step would carry the risk of an escalation of the war. “Hungary wants to prevent that,” he added, insisting that “dragging the EU and NATO into this conflict must be avoided”.
He said Hungary did not support proposals on providing financial support to Ukraine’s armed forces until Hungarian businesses were sanctioned in Ukraine and measures endangering energy supplies to Hungary were in place.
The minister noted Hungary’s continued active participation in EU military missions including the EUFOR Quick Response 24 annual exercise.
The current Hungarian EU presidency also supports other EU initiatives for the “global South including the Sahel region”, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said. Hungary will contribute from October to the EUNAVFOR Aspides military operation at the Red Sea and will participate in the EU’s military training in Somalia in 2025, he added.
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I am so sick and tired of Ukraine and its s…
Force it and Russia to sit down and hash out a deal. Ukraine will cede some territory–it happens all the time–, guaranties can be made that in case of another Russian attack N.A.T.O. will get involved directly, and that will be the end of the matter.
This endless proxy war is hurting us all… – except, ironically, Russia.
I mostly agree with you, Michael, except for your last sentence. Yes, Russia is not hurting nearly as badly as the west thought it would, but the damage on Hungary is limited. It hardly hosts any Ukrainian refugees and its domestic problems are of its own making. Other regional countries have been exposed to the same climate and they’re neither complaining, nor is anything dramatic (or anything at all) visible in their metrics. Countries like Poland and Czechia have heroically housed millions of Ukrainians with nary a whimper. The war is taking place one border away and has next to no impact on Hungary or her citizens.
Ah. Mr. Putin´s famous “red lines”. Sweden and Finland joining NATO, increased supplies, quantitatively and qualitatively (F16 jets, medium range rockets), invasion of Russian territory… Other than disturbing (semi-) covert stuff – quite … Quiet? No?
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-tried-assassinate-ceo-arms-firm-sending-weapons-ukraine-cnn-reports-2024-07-11/
Re “not hurting Russia” – this is not what I am getting from the Russians I know. And “родина” (rodina) to them is very important, regardless of political persuasion or where they live. Speaking of strong culture.