
Péter Szijjártó: 2023 Will be Another Successful Year in Hungarian-Israeli Relations
‘It is a legitimate expectation that 2023 will be another successful year in Hungarian-Israeli relations.’

‘It is a legitimate expectation that 2023 will be another successful year in Hungarian-Israeli relations.’

Hungarian FM Péter Szijjártó said new US sanctions on Russia’s energy sector have not yet impacted Hungary and stressed that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary may discuss the issue with President Trump next week. He praised Trump’s role in past and current peace efforts, claiming that he brings hope for resolving crises in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, DC, on Wednesday to discuss preparations for the planned Trump–Putin peace summit in Budapest. Despite reports of a cancellation, Szijjártó said the US ‘has not given up’ on the summit, stressing that the question is one of timing, not intention.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, praising Donald Trump as the only leader capable of ending the war in Ukraine. Both sides stressed commitment to peace efforts and highlighted a new phase in bilateral ties, marked by US investments and energy cooperation.

At talks in Budapest with Ukraine’s Deputy PM Taras Kachka, Hungarian FM Péter Szijjártó placed full blame on Kyiv for deteriorating relations, citing curtailed minority rights and strikes on the Druzhba pipeline. He declared Hungary opposes Ukraine’s EU accession, offering only a strategic partnership as a realistic path.

Hungary’s FM Péter Szijjártó defended his recent Beijing visit, stressing bloc forming harms Hungary’s interests. He urged East-West cooperation, citing Hungary’s success as a bridge between economies. He highlighted Chinese investment, noting Hungary drew 31 per cent of Europe’s total last year, calling ties a ‘true success story’.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico have travelled to Beijing to attend China’s 3 September World War II victory parade, where they will be the only EU representatives alongside leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. Szijjártó stressed Hungary’s interest in ‘civilized East–West cooperation’ and in deepening Chinese investment ties.

Kyiv dismissed claims by Hungarian FM Péter Szijjártó that it refused to investigate the violent death of a Transcarpathian Hungarian man at the hands of conscription officers. The Ukrainian DBR insists a criminal case is ongoing, and forensic examination did not reveal any signs of external physical abuse.

Ukrainian authorities have refused to investigate the death of József Sebestyén, a Hungarian man beaten by conscription officers, prompting outrage from Budapest. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó says the decision reveals Ukraine’s forced conscription as a state-organized practice incompatible with EU values.

Hungary is reaping major benefits from economic ties with China, FM Péter Szijjártó said, citing record-breaking exports, high-tech investments, and job creation. He emphasized Hungary’s leading role in attracting Chinese projects and promoting cooperation between East and West.