Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó engaged in separate phone conversations with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over the weekend, reflecting on the recent Alaska summit between President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
Szijjártó took to social media platform X to express Hungary’s appreciation for Trump’s efforts in promoting peace, emphasizing the importance of the summit proceeding despite considerable external pressures.
He reiterated that Hungary has consistently advocated for a ceasefire and peace negotiations over the past three and a half years.
“We hope yesterday’s talks in Alaska will open the way to peace. At the same time, we trust this will not end as it did three and a half years ago, when Western Europeans torpedoed the Istanbul peace agreement,” Szijjártó stated following his conversation with Landau.
In his discussion with Lavrov, Szijjártó reaffirmed Hungary’s commitment to peace, expressing appreciation for the summit.
“History is clear: When there is cooperation between the United States and Russia, the world is a safer place,” he noted, while expressing hope that attempts to undermine the peace process that commenced in Alaska will ultimately fail.
The Alaska summit itself consisted of a three-hour meeting on Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, Anchorage, where both leaders described their discussions as constructive and successful, even amid the acknowledgment of no tangible progress toward a ceasefire agreement—the primary objective of their meeting.
During a joint press conference, Putin recognized the importance of securing Ukraine’s security and expressed hope that the agreements reached during their talks would help pave the way to peace.
Following the summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet President Trump at the White House on Monday, marking a strategic approach differing from Zelenskyy’s previous encounter with the US leadership, which ended unfavorably for him.
This time, Zelenskyy will be accompanied by notable European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Ahead of this meeting, both Zelenskyy and the European leaders have reaffirmed their stance regarding a ceasefire, demanding no territorial concessions and ensuring robust security guarantees for Ukraine before any cessation of hostilities.
In a significant development during the Alaska summit, reports indicate that Putin made substantial concessions regarding security guarantees for Ukraine, which have been one of the primary issues fueling the conflict.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, shared insights stating that Putin agreed to ‘NATO-like’ security guarantees for Kyiv, a critical demand from Ukraine seeking NATO membership to enhance its security.
According to Witkoff, the concession reflects a deeper understanding of Ukraine’s position and desires in response to the protracted conflict.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also present at the summit, explained that the upcoming discussions will focus on the specifics of these security guarantees.
“How that’s constructed, what we call it, how it’s built, what guarantees are built into it that are enforceable—that’s what we’ll be talking about over the next few days with our partners,” Rubio emphasized.
Furthermore, Witkoff indicated that the Russians have committed to enacting legislative measures that would prevent them from engaging in aggressive actions against other European nations and from violating their sovereignty.
These developments come as Hungary emerges as a rare EU member state actively bridging communication between both the US and Russia following the Alaska summit.
Despite the broader EU leadership remaining cautious and adhering to a policy against direct talks with Russia, Hungary’s unique positioning may provide critical insights into Moscow’s intentions.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has long advocated for an EU-Russian summit, believing it could enhance the EU’s leverage in negotiations, which he views as currently inadequate.
Nevertheless, Hungary’s dual engagement may pave the way for more informed discussions in addressing the complexities surrounding the Ukraine conflict as both US and Russian officials navigate the path forward post-Alaska.
image source from：hungarianconservative
