Hungary and Switzerland stand firmly united in their belief that the war in Ukraine cannot be resolved on the battlefield and must be addressed through diplomacy. This shared position was emphasized by Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó during his visit to Bern on Monday, following talks with his Swiss counterpart, Ignazio Cassis.
‘We both see clearly that the Ukrainian conflict has no military solution. Only through inclusive negotiations involving all warring sides can peace be reached,’ Szijjártó stated. He added that both countries are steadfast in their support for peace efforts and oppose illegal migration, shaping their policies based on pragmatism and common sense.
Both ministers also voiced concern over the increasing politicization of international organizations, warning that such trends undermine their ability to foster dialogue and peace. ‘If we take away the platform where even hostile or disagreeing countries can discuss their problems, we are essentially giving up the possibility of peace,’ Szijjártó said.
Beyond politics, the Hungarian minister highlighted the strong economic ties between the two nations. Over the past decade, Swiss investments in Hungary have tripled, with 44 major projects supported by the Hungarian government, amounting to 600 billion forints and creating numerous jobs. Swiss companies now form Hungary’s seventh-largest investor community.
Tourism has also seen significant growth, with an 80 per cent rise in Hungarians travelling to Switzerland last year and a 20 per cent increase in Swiss visitors to Hungary. According to Szijjártó, this growth reflects not only solid political and economic cooperation but also strong people-to-people connections.
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