FM Szijjártó welcomes Brazil-China statement on Ukraine war

Hungary welcomes the statement signed by Brazil and China on how to resolve the war in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in St Petersburg on Thursday, saying the statement promoted peace in the country, which was in Hungary’s interest.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, Szijjártó said the statement signed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Celso Amorim, the Brazilian president’s chief adviser on foreign policy, was a step forward because it addressed ways to promote peace. “Therefore we welcome, appreciate and value this common statement,” he said.

He said Hungary’s government agreed that the solution could not be found on the battlefield and could only be brought about through negotiations.

Szijjártó said the government was concerned by the statements by some European leaders on the possible use of nuclear weapons. “We do hope that no one is going to think about it seriously.”

“We also agree with the approach that nuclear energy facilities need to be protected,” Szijjarto Szijjártó said. Cooperation in nuclear energy is not subject to European Union sanctions and Hungary’s government will reject any restrictions in the sector, he said.

Hungary’s energy needs, he added, could only be met with nuclear energy in the mix, noting that its Paks plant is fueled by Russian fuel, “which is thus key to a safe energy supply”, he said.

“It is not only that we do not support sanctions; we are interested in further improving our nuclear cooperation with Russia,” he said.

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