Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, President Katalin Novák said it is vitally important to avoid a third world war and prevent the escalation of the war in Ukraine.
Answering a question by the chair of the panel entitled Defending Europe’s United Front, President Novák argued in favor of the EU continuing to help Ukraine to prevent Russia from winning the war, and she said Hungary continued to support this aim. President Novák noted that neither NATO nor the EU were military participants in the war, and, she added, this must remain the case. “We mustn’t get involved militarily in the conflict,” she said, adding that it was vitally important to preserve peace and security. Asked about Ukraine’s chances of winning the war and whether Ukraine’s victory was key to maintaining Europe’s security, Novák said: “Russia cannot win”. Novák said Russia’s aggression must be condemned and it must be stated clearly which side was the aggressor and which one was being attacked. “It is clear that Russia has crossed the Rubicon,” she said. Russia’s aggression had a direct impact on Hungary due to its geographic location and in light of the ethnic Hungarian community living in western Ukraine, Novák said. “War and aggression cannot be a solution,” she said. Hungary has signed up to the peace plan put forward by Ukraine, she noted, adding that work must be done to establish peace. On Tuesday, Novák met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “We had to discuss many difficult issues,” Novák said on Facebook. The talks focused on Hungarian youth and the Erasmus+ programme, she said. “I hope that Hungarian students won’t be stripped of the opportunities brought about by studies abroad.”