Zoltan Kovacs, the spokesman for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stressed Hungary's commitment to achieving a ceasefire and starting negotiations on the situation in Ukraine. Kovacs stressed that Hungary has consistently maintained a position that deviates from the common European perspective, advocating a peaceful resolution and negotiations to address the apparent violation of international law. He pointed to the urgent need to stop the conflict, which has led to hundreds of thousands of victims, BTA reports.
According to Kovacs, a significant majority of Hungarians, about 85%, are in favor of peace and are against the supply of weapons to Kiev. He argued that the provision of arms only served to prolong the duration of the conflict. In addition, Kovacs did not rule out the possibility that Prime Minister Orbán could participate in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin without the support of an EU mandate.
Kovach criticized the European Union for trying to bypass Hungarian opposition to arming Ukraine, describing efforts by the European Commission under President Ursula von der Leyen as ineffective. He attributed the absence of European Commissioners at the opening of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU to organizational reasons and a lack of sufficient and appropriate time, rejecting the idea of political disagreements.
Defending Hungary's opinion, Kovacs said that the country will not change its position despite its role in the Council of the EU. He categorically rejected any form of coercion by the European institutions, stressing Hungary's sovereignty and the importance of unanimity in EU decision-making.
Kovach confidently stated that Hungary can manage without EU funds, emphasizing the country's resilience and commitment to principles.