President-elect Donald Trump picked former Chief of Staff of the National Security Council Keith Kellogg as special envoy for the war in Ukraine. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó welcomed the decision, highlighting its significance in strengthening the global peace camp.
An agreement reached on Tuesday between Hungarian Cardnet and Chinese Macau Pass will pave the way for the establishment of a payment platform linking Chinese and European payment and settlement systems. ‘Sino–European cooperation could reach an entirely new dimension through this agreement,’ Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó remarked.
Deputy General-Director of the World Trade Organization Zhang Xiangchen praised the Hungarian strategy of economic neutrality, stating that it is the way forward. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó highlighted that the Hungarian government is fully committed to the implementation of the strategy.
The Russian news agency RIA Novosti distorted Péter Szijjártó’s remarks about NATO’s role in the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, making it appear as though the Hungarian foreign minister blamed NATO for the conflict. The Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade strongly rejects these misrepresentations.
‘Our meeting convinced me that we have every reason to hope that the will to develop neighbourly relations is mutual, and that it is common that these neighbourly relations can, over time, develop into good neighbourly relations,’ Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó highlighted following a long-awaited meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart on Monday in Budapest.
In an earlier interview in the Hungarian media former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated that ‘all issues in Hungarian-Ukrainian relations can be traced back to the Russian aggression’. On the other hand, he also noted the importance of Péter Szijjártó emphasizing his support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Therefore, it will be interesting to see what comes out of the planned meeting with Kuleba’s successor.
Prior to the start of Hungary’s current presidency of the Council of the EU, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó stated that the country plans to initiate the opening of a new chapter in accession negotiations with Serbia. This intention was also extended to the entire region, as the Hungarian foreign minister highlighted the country’s aim to hold intergovernmental talks with all five Western Balkan countries.
Olivér Várhelyi will be removed from his position as Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and will, if confirmed by the EP, be serving as Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare instead in the incoming EU Commission. EU Minister János Bóka congratulated him on his new assignment, while Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has criticized Brussels for the decision.
According to Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak, Kyiv plans to shut down the Druzhba oil pipeline starting from 1 January 2025. This pipeline is a key route through which Russian oil reaches Europe, including Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Hungarian oil and gas company MOL stated that it has not been informed of this decision and that transport is currently running smoothly. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó has assured that Hungary’s energy supply remains secure.
The expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant has reached an important milestone, with ground consolidation for the nuclear island of Unit 6 now underway. According to Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó, only countries capable of managing their own energy supply can be successful, and the Paks power plant plays a crucial role in ensuring this for Hungary.