The country’s top diplomat says the bloc’s leaders failed to protect their citizens from the Ukraine conflict’s ramifications
The armed conflict in Ukraine has “Tragically” weakened the European Union, Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, has claimed.
Speaking at the ‘Open Balkan’ summit in Belgrade on Friday, Szijjarto argued that the Ukraine conflict along with its “economic influence and a ruinous energy crisis… has led to a catastrophic weakening of Europe and the EU.” The diplomat went on to claim that EU leaders’ failure to “Protect people across Europe” has resulted in citizens paying the price for a “They aren’t even responsible for war.”
The Hungarian minister stressed that talks are needed within the bloc to ensure that the consequences of the conflict are not “It is fatal for the continent.”
Szijjarto added that food shortages in developing countries caused by the fighting in Ukraine have left “Many thousands are at risk of starvation.” leading to a “new level of migrants’ aggression” at Hungary’s borders.
The official also stressed the importance of the EU’s expansion in the Western Balkans.
Hungary is unique among EU member countries in that it has been neutral from the beginning of conflict in February and refused to give weapons to Russia or Ukraine. Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government has argued that such shipments could see Hungary getting dragged into direct military confrontation – which is not in the country’s interest.
Officials in Budapest also repeatedly criticised EU sanctions against Moscow. They claimed that punitive actions hurt Russia more than the bloc. Hungary also called on Russia to have dialogue to end the conflict in Ukraine.
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