Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov again received the Hungarian Foreign Minister in Moscow

The Hungarian government must increase its efforts towards peace as the risk of escalation in the war in Ukraine is more serious than ever before, the Hungarian foreign minister said in Moscow on Monday, adding that efforts had to also be made to keep the channels of diplomacy open.

Lavrov

Sergei Lavrov began the meeting by saying in the first three minutes that Russia appreciates Viktor Orban’s “independent policy”, that they see Hungary’s sincere efforts to restore peace, and that he believes there is sustainable growth in both the Russian and Hungarian economies.

Szijjártó

At talks held with his Russian colleague, Sergei Lavrov, Péter Szijjártó underlined that the risk of escalation of the war “is more serious than ever before.”

“There have been many dangerous and irresponsible decisions made in the recent past that for a country neighbouring Ukraine, such as Hungary, pose particular threats,” he said.

He said the past one thousand days had proved that the war had no solution in the battlefield, it could only be ended through negotiations for which “the channels of diplomacy have to be kept open”.

“Those who close those diplomatic channels or attack those who keep them open do not really want peace,” he said.

Szijjártó said developing bilateral ties with Russia in areas not affected by sanctions “is a clear and open goal” of the Hungarian government.

Lavrov

Then, the Russian Foreign Minister took the floor again, but in the next 10 minutes or so, he did not give it to Szijjártó, so only Lavrov spoke.
The Russian Foreign Minister returned to the themes often voiced by Moscow, the situation in Ukraine, and spoke at length about how anyone who speaks out against peace does not even represent the interests of his own people, saying that they see the likes of Viktor Orban’s peace mission from China, South Africa and several Arab countries. He also criticised the Western double standards they see in Russia.