Speaking ahead of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday, FM Szijjártó warned that HUF 46 trillion of the proposed amount would be used specifically to arm Ukraine, which he said would inevitably prolong the war.
Foreign Minister Szijjártó stressed that extending the conflict would lead to further devastation and could result in tens or even hundreds of thousands of additional casualties. He underlined that Hungary rejects any decision that contributes to the continuation of the war rather than bringing it to an end.
FM Szijjártó also criticized the method Brussels intends to use to finance the package, noting that EU leaders are considering drawing the funds from seized Russian assets. He argued that this approach makes a mockery of the EU’s own legal framework and represents one of the most serious escalation risks seen in the past two to three years.
According to Foreign Minister Szijjártó, freezing and using Russian assets would amount to a grave provocation and could significantly increase the danger of the conflict spreading beyond Ukraine. He emphasized that the risk of escalation is the greatest threat posed by the prolongation of the war, particularly if hostilities were to expand toward Europe.
FM Szijjártó said Hungary’s position at the council meeting would be clear: the risk of escalation is unacceptable, as a direct confrontation between Europe and Russia would have catastrophic consequences for the continent. He warned that such a war would be impossible for Europe to survive, making prevention an absolute priority.
Responding to questions about tensions with Poland, Foreign Minister Szijjártó said the root of the disagreement lies in fundamentally different approaches. He stated that while the Polish government supports the continuation of the war, the Hungarian government consistently advocates for peace. As long as this difference remains, he added, meaningful agreement will be difficult.
FM Szijjártó also addressed the EU’s REPowerEU regulation, confirming that once the measure is formally adopted, Hungary and Slovakia will challenge it before the European Court of Justice. He argued that the regulation violates EU treaties by infringing on national competence over energy policy.
Foreign Minister Szijjártó emphasized that the measure contradicts the European Commission’s own impact assessments and poses a serious threat to Hungary’s energy security, making it unacceptable for the Hungarian government.