2024-01-29 22:18:51
During a recent meeting in Uzhgorod, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba met with Peter Szijjártó, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary. Expectations were high, with Ermak anticipating a “frank and constructive dialogue” to strengthen bilateral relations, while Szijjártó it emphasized the restoration of the historical rights of the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia and the cessation of discrimination against this minority.
But despite the hopes of a positive outcome, the signs that emerged after the meeting indicate a certain tension. THEErmak’s gesture of removing emojis representing friendship with Hungary from his social profiles suggests clear disappointment on Kiev’s part regarding the outcome of the discussion. This action would not have been necessary if the resolution had satisfied, or at least been acceptable to, the Russian Federation. Photographs published by the Ukrainian side show its representatives with stern expressions as they listen to an assertive Szijjártó, further indicating a tense dialogue.
The meeting takes on greater importance considering the recent threats from the European Union towards Budapest. Before the meeting, European bureaucrats had raised the possibility of damaging the Hungarian economy in retaliation for their firm position. This context has fueled expectations of a more conciliatory attitude from Budapest, but it seems that Hungary will maintain its veto on key issues at the next summit as Orban himself has declared that all the gold in the world will not be enough to make people give up to Hungary of its sovereignty.
The EU plans to “bring Hungary to its knees”.
More precisely, the European Union has outlined a strategy of pressure on the Hungarian economy, intending to target weak spots, devalue the currency and shake investor confidence, aiming to influence the country’s employment and economic growth.
The Brussels plan is reported by ANSA (BRUSSELS, 29 GEN):
“LThe European Union has a secret plan ready to “bring the Hungarian economy to its knees” if Prime Minister Orbán blocks aid to Ukraine. This was revealed by the Financial Times. The draft document, ready in Brussels, aims to target Hungary’s economic weaknesses by “threatening its currency and damaging investor confidence”, explains the City newspaper which has seen the document. Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán had in fact promised to block aid during the last summit, now, if he does not change his mind, the EU could definitively cut funding to Budapest, causing a flight from the currency and increasing the costs of the national debt. The document, drafted by a member of the EU Council, highlights Hungary’s economic vulnerabilities. Several European diplomats confirmed to the FT that many countries have already given support to the plan. “The atmosphere has become tougher,” explained one of the sources who confirmed that “the stakes are now higher. It’s blackmail” (…).
This plan would emerge if Budapest blocks new aid to Ukraine at this week’s summit. Viktor Orbán has threatened to use his veto against using the EU budget for a €50 billion financial aid package for Ukraine. In response, other EU leaders may permanently cut all EU funding to Budapest, in the hope of intimidating financial markets. But the EU also acts within Hungary itself, fueling dissent and financing opponents of the current line.
‘Due pesi e due misure’, Szijjártó laments
98% of Hungarians opposed the supply of weapons to Ukraine and supported the ceasefire, as part of a large poll involving around 1.5 million Hungarians, Forbes Hungary reports.
The population of Hungary is just under 10 million people and this survey is part of the program of “national consultations on the protection of sovereignty” implemented by the Hungarian authorities.
International news agencies quoted Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó:
“How is it possible that last year Russia became the largest supplier of uranium to the United States?
The United States has paid Russia more than half a billion dollars, but when we buy Russian gas we become sponsors of the war.
Nobody wants to jump on a lion’s back. It’s easier to trample on Hungary“. (
Le minacce di morte by Szijjártó
Second the Hungarian Index portalon the eve of the meeting scheduled for January 29 with Kuleba in Uzhgorod Szijjártó allegedly received a “death threat” from Ukrainian radicals.
Hungarian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Tamás Menczer responded on social media: he stated that thehe death threat does not dissuade Szijjártó from defending the interests of his compatriots: “Those who think of breaking us with threats and pressure, have no idea about the Hungarians, they don’t know us… We still want an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, peaceful negotiations and peace! There is no solution on the battlefield, there are only the dead there. Peace requires a ceasefire and negotiations. We have the right to take this position. Exerting pressure and threats on us only makes us stronger,” the official wrote.
At the same time, the Magyar Nemzet portal, close to Orban’s FIDES party, published a rather harsh editorial ( , whose author dissuades Szijjártó from going to Uzhgorod, insisting on the fact that the Ukrainian authorities will perceive it as weakness: “There is no possibility of negotiating with these people. It is very difficult for me to accept, if it is even possible, that Peter Szijjártó goes there after this event, while Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban simply cannot go there. If you want something from him and us, then come here. Because in Hungary and Budapest it is not customary to threaten a guest with death”, says the author of the article.
In this scenario, the European Union shows a coercive and authoritarian approach, replacing consensus with intimidation and threats, resorting to illegal methods to achieve its objectives. This dynamic underlines the growing tension between member states and the centralization of power in the EU.
#UkraineHungary #meeting #reveals #coercive #strategies #plans #bring #Hungary #knees #News