Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said Europe suffers from the sanctions introduced in response to the Ukraine war more than Russia itself, so it would be best to dismiss the eighth package of sanctions.
During the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Minister Szijjártó said the punitive measures introduced so far “have beyond doubt hurt Europe much more than Russia” because they have resulted in soaring inflation and utility costs on the continent. He said the “vast majority” of the world outside of Europe already realised that the effects of the sanctions were more severe than the effects of the war because the challenges that the world currently faces result from the sanctions and not directly from the war. “The European Union should stop talking about the eighth package of sanctions and stop calling for measures that could further exacerbate the energy supply difficulties,” Minister Szijjártó said. Supply challenges will worsen in the winter, he added. Minister Szijjártó said it was a “waste of time” not to use the UNGA to achieve peace. Further, the International Atomic Energy Agency’s efforts in connection with the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant should be supported in order to guarantee the security of reactors, which requires all war activities to stop in the region, he added.
Photo credit: Facebook/Szijjártó Péter