At a joint press conference with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, on Monday, 27 October, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó of Hungary responded to a recent statement by US Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker, according to a statement by his ministry. He emphasized that US sanctions affecting the Russian energy sector have not yet come into force, and therefore do not represent any kind of loss for Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will be able to consult with US President Donald Trump in person on this issue during his visit to the United States next week, if necessary, after analysing what these decisions mean exactly, the Minister explained.
‘As far as our energy supply is concerned, I am not in favour of any kind of messaging. I have discussed this issue personally with [US Secretary of State] Marco Rubio on several occasions, the Prime Minister has discussed it with the President, and there will be an opportunity in Washington in the second half of next week for the Prime Minister to discuss this issue personally with President Trump again,’ Minister Szijjártó stressed. ‘As for the US sanctions, since they will not take effect for some time, these measures have not caused any disruption or difficulties in terms of energy imports from Russia,’ he added.
He then went on to state that humanity continues to live in an age of danger and faces serious security challenges, the most important of which are currently the crises in Ukraine and the Middle East.
‘I think the majority of people believed that the war in Ukraine would be easier to resolve than the situation in the Middle East. This has not been the case. Today, the Middle East settlement is further ahead, but what both the Ukrainian and Middle East crises have in common is that Donald Trump himself represents the hope for a solution,’ the Minister opined.
He also pointed out that attempts at settlement in the Middle East had failed repeatedly for decades, with real hope first emerging in 2020, and then in 2025, when people in the region, regardless of their nationality or residence, would regain their fundamental human right to a peaceful, calm, safe life free from terrorist attacks.
‘What the hopes of 2020 and 2025 have in common is that Donald Trump brought the solution then, and he is bringing the solution now. What they also have in common is that many people said then that it was impossible, and many people are saying now that it is impossible. Many people were sceptical then and now, and many people tried to prevent the settlement then and now,’ Minister Szijjártó added.
He also highlighted that he believes the United States have not given up on the Budapest Peace Summit between US President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia; and that Hungary is supporting President Trump’s peace efforts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
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