European leaders are suffering from a “war psyche” that is impeding President Trump’s efforts to broker a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto says.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Washington Times ahead of his meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week in Washington, Mr. Szijjarto expressed disappointment in the European response to the announcement of a summit between Mr. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary’s capital, Budapest.
“The European mainstream tries to avoid everything from happening that might bring peace. Why? Because Europe is being overruled now by a war psyche,” Mr. Szijjarto told The Times.
“We have to be aware that most of the European politicians are not interested in the success of the peace summit. They are doing everything to avoid it from happening. Until this meeting takes place, there will be fake news, there will be leaks, there will be statements every day about postponement, about failure, about not taking place,” he said. “This is a very simple battle on the level of communication between the pro-war and the pro-peace narrative.”
Mr. Trump announced the summit last week after a surprise phone call with Mr. Putin. But he said Tuesday that his plan for a swift meeting with the Russian president was on hold because he didn’t want it to be a “waste of time.”
Mr. Szijjarto said Hungary is willing to work with both countries to iron out the details.
“If we are asked to be a mediator, we act as a mediator. If you are being asked to be a host, we act as a host. Whatever we are asked for, we do because we want peace to come,” the foreign minister said. “We have kept our channels of communication with Russia open always for this. … If you give up the channels of communication, you give up the hope for peace as well.”
During a meeting Monday in Luxembourg, some European Union foreign ministers said any summit would make little progress without Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has said he would be willing to attend if invited.
Others expressed outrage that Mr. Putin could set foot on European soil without being arrested. Since 2023, Mr. Putin has been under an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Hungary withdrew from the ICC this year, ensuring Mr. Putin would not be arrested if he travels to Budapest.
Europe’s reaction to the summit’s announcement last week underscores the divide between Hungary and the EU that has been growing since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Hungary, unlike its NATO and EU allies, has refused to provide military aid to Ukraine and has forbidden other countries from using its territory to transfer weapons.
Nearly all EU energy ministers voted to ban Russian energy imports by 2028, increasing economic pressure on Russia. Hungary, which heavily relies on Russian oil, has vehemently opposed the ban, calling it illogical.
Mr. Szijjarto called the move nakedly political and said he hopes to discuss the issue with Mr. Rubio.
“If we cut ourselves from the Russian sources, then the remaining infrastructure is not enough, simply, physically, is not enough to supply our demand,” Mr. Szijjarto said. “That’s the reason it has nothing to do with politics, with ideology, nothing. Because with politics and ideology, you cannot heat, you cannot cool, you cannot operate factories. So we think that politics and ideology should be left aside when it comes to energy supplies.”
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.