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 Péter Szijjártó 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. Szijjártó expressed disappointment in the European response to last week’s 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. Szijjártó 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 following a surprise phone call with Mr. Putin, saying it would take place soon. However, no set date has been set for the meeting, and media reports on Tuesday indicated it will take time to finalize a schedule.
Still, Mr. Szijjártó 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 little progress could be made at the summit 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. Mr. Putin has faced an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court over Russia’s actions in Ukraine since 2023. 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 underscores the divide between Hungary and the EU that has been growing since Russia invaded Ukraine in 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.
The EU recently increased economic pressure on Russia, with nearly all EU energy ministers voting to ban Russian energy imports by 2028. Hungary, which heavily relies on Russian oil, has vehemently opposed the ban, calling it illogical.
Mr. Szijjártó called the move nakedly political and said he hopes to discuss the issue with Mr. Rubio during their meeting this week.
“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. Szijjártó 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.
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